“Love is like trench warfare - you cannot see the enemy, but you know he is there and that it is wiser to keep your head down.”

—  Lawrence Durrell , book Balthazar

Source: Balthazar

Last update June 12, 2023. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Love is like trench warfare - you cannot see the enemy, but you know he is there and that it is wiser to keep your head…" by Lawrence Durrell?
Lawrence Durrell photo
Lawrence Durrell 52
British novelist, poet, dramatist, and travel writer 1912–1990

Related quotes

Martin Luther King, Jr. photo

“Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, "Love your enemies." It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. That's why Jesus says, "Love your enemies." Because if you hate your enemies, you have no way to redeem and to transform your enemies. But if you love your enemies, you will discover that at the very root of love is the power of redemption. You just keep loving people and keep loving them, even though they're mistreating you. Here's the person who is a neighbor, and this person is doing something wrong to you and all of that. Just keep being friendly to that person. Keep loving them. Don't do anything to embarrass them. Just keep loving them, and they can't stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with bitterness because they're mad because you love them like that. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they'll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love they will break down under the load. That's love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says love. There's something about love that builds up and is creative. There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive. So love your enemies.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American clergyman, activist, and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement

1950s, Loving Your Enemies (November 1957)

“An Enemy is a friend who knows too much about you. Remember to keep your enemies close to protect all those who you love.”

Darren89
Martin Luther photo

“You cannot keep birds from flying over your head
but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair”

Martin Luther (1483–1546) seminal figure in Protestant Reformation
Ernest Hemingway photo

“Keep your head clear and know how to suffer like a man. Or a fish, he thought.”

Ernest Hemingway book The Old Man and the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea (1952)

Cassandra Clare photo

“Goodness," Tessa said to the back of his head. "If you keep seeing Six-Fingered Nigel like this, he'll expect you to declare your intentions.”

Cassandra Clare book Clockwork Angel

Source: Clockwork Angel

Patrick Rothfuss photo

“Its like he knows he's better than you, but doesn't look down on you for it because he knows it's not your fault.”

Patrick Rothfuss book The Name of the Wind

Source: The Name of the Wind

Richelle Mead photo

“You forgot another lesson: Never turn your back until you know your enemy
is dead. Looks like we’ll have to go over the lesson again the next time
I see you—which will be soon.
Love, D.”

Richelle Mead Blood Promise

Source: Blood Promise

Benjamin Ricketson Tucker photo

“It is not wise warfare to throw your ammunition to the enemy unless you throw it from the cannon's mouth.”

Benjamin Ricketson Tucker (1854–1939) American journalist and anarchist

Individual Liberty (1926), Passive Resistance
Context: It is not wise warfare to throw your ammunition to the enemy unless you throw it from the cannon's mouth. But if you can compel the enemy to waste his ammunition by drawing his fire on some thoroughly protected spot; if you can, by annoying and goading and harassing him in all possible ways, drive him to the last resort of stripping bare his tyrannous and invasive purposes and put him in the attitude of a designing villain assailing honest men for purposes of plunder; there is no better strategy.

Related topics