“My enemy is not the man who wrongs me, but the man who means to wrong me.”

— Democritus

Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of Democritus

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Democritus 81

Ancient Greek philosopher, pupil of Leucippus, founder of t…

Frank Crane (1861–1928) American Presbyterian minister

Four Minute Essays Vol. 7 (1919), A School for Living

“By an unfailing coincidence, the man who wrongs us is a villain, and the man who does us a kindness is a saint.”

Henry S. Haskins (1875–1957)

Source: Meditations in Wall Street (1940), p. 109

“What a dawning appears to the man or woman who earnestly inquires, 'Who is living my life for me?' Am I really thinking for myself or am I unknowingly projecting acquired ideas which may be all wrong?”

Vernon Howard (1918–1992) American writer

Psycho-Pictography

“A man who is certain he is right is almost sure to be wrong.”

Michael Faraday (1791–1867) English scientist

“The woman who is known only through a man is known wrong.”

Henry Adams (1838–1918) journalist, historian, academic, novelist

The Education of Henry Adams (1907)

“Life is not meaningless for the man who considers certain actions wrong simply because they are wrong, whether or not they violate the law.”

Hyman George Rickover (1900–1986) United States admiral

Thoughts on Man's Purpose in Life (1974)
Context: Life is not meaningless for the man who considers certain actions wrong simply because they are wrong, whether or not they violate the law. This kind of moral code gives a person a focus, a basis on which to conduct himself. Certainly there is a temptation to let go of morals in order to do the expedient thing. But there is also a tremendous power in standing by what is right. Principle and accomplishment need not be incompatible.
A common thread moves through all the principles I have discussed: It is the desire to improve oneself and one's surroundings by actively participating in life. Too many succumb to the emotional preference of the comfortable solution instead of the difficult one. It is easy to do nothing. And to do nothing is also an act; an act of indifference or cowardice.
A person must prepare himself intellectually and professionally and then use his powers to their fullest extent.