“Never interfere with an enemy while he’s in the process of destroying himself.” Agree or disagree?

[Still-alive]

Said by this dude here ^

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

It depends (explain)

[Rosexøxø]

Well depends on the person you are the capabilities and your objective in life and encounters with others.

Say he’s being destructive in a way where you’d get hurt if / for trying to help. Then maybe wait until the episode fizzles out so to speak, to then offer help.

if it’s urgent then maybe intervene earlier on but decide if that’s for you or someone else.

If it’s like a REAL enemy in some serious matter, then yeah, let them do the work for you, I suppose.

[Rosexøxø]

Let them spend the energy.

Voted depends.

[Flatmanlewis]

Agree. I was not familiar with that quote from Napoleon Bonaparte but it’s similar to an even more brilliant tactician - Adm. Nelson who said “ Gentlemen, when the enemy is committed to a mistake we must not interrupt him too soon.”


I don’t really have any enemies but the sentiment can apply to differ aspects of life. I once worked for a tyrant of a boss. She spent so much time smearing my reputation that it worried me. I tried my hardest to do my absolute best to impress her. It didn’t succeed but also led others to question her more than me since they were not seeing what she was describing in me. Eventually she found another person to shift her attention to. Guess what? The exact same pattern developed. It wasn’t more than about 2 years when she had done that to several people that she was considered so unreliable and incapable of effective supervision that she was quietly reassigned to a non-supervisory spot.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Strongly Agree, for example if a person was trying to kill themselves I sure wouldn't try stopping them I would call 911, they could kill me and live life sentenced to prison.

[Caroline91]

I generally try to get out of the way of someone who doesn't wish me well. However, if that isn't possible, I will gift wrap and hand them the proverbial long rope and they can either use it to climb up out of the dross or to hang themselves. Their choice. I will not engage further than that.

[Ms_Facesitter]

Agree, but an asker here is destroying himself and it makes me sad. And he won't listen. But he is deep in the process of self destruction.

[Still-alive]

Is this person your enemy?

[Ms_Facesitter]

No, and that is why it is sad. I just came to this question after answering his.

[IslaTheWitch]

if only realizing that your enemy is currently trying to destroy themselves was so easy...

[menina]

I strongly agree. Why trying to destroy them when they're already doing it to themselves? It sounds perfect!

[mandyfire98]

Oh absolutely. Humans are actually very skilled at sabotaging themselves.

[onedarkcloud]

Let them destroy themselves and save the lives of your troops that might be killed to accomplish the same thing that they doing for free If it works

[llorando]

Strongly agree unless the enemy is yourself, then there is no choice but to interfere.

[Wiredone]

I don't associate with enemies so how would I know if they were trying to destroy themselves

[DrPepper12]

Hubris is the best ally in any fight.

[msc545]

Agree, unless you can hasen his destrucion.

[WhitneySnow]

Agreed!