“It is better to arm and strengthen your hero, than to disarm and enfeeble your foe.”
Source: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (1848), Ch. III : A Controversy; Gilbert to Helen
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Anne Brontë 148
British novelist and poet 1820–1849Related quotes

“Very often the hero of one is a foe of the other and, likewise,”
Presidential Address to All India Muslim League's Session on March 22, 1940
Context: It is extremely difficult to appreciate why our Hindu friends fail to understand the real nature of Islam and Hinduism. They are not religions in the strict sense of the word, but are, in fact, different and distinct social orders, and it is a dream that the Hindus and Muslims can ever evolve a common nationality, and this misconception of one Indian nation has troubles and will lead India to destruction if we fail to revise our notions in time. The Hindus and Muslims belong to two different religious philosophies, social customs, litterateurs. They neither intermarry nor interdine together and, indeed, they belong to two different civilizations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions. Their aspect on life and of life are different. It is quite clear that Hindus and Mussalmans (Muslims) derive their inspiration from different sources of history. They have different epics, different heroes, and different episodes. Very often the hero of one is a foe of the other and, likewise, their victories and defeats overlap. To yoke together two such nations under a single state, one as a numerical minority and the other as a majority, must lead to growing discontent and final destruction of any fabric that may be so built for the government of such a state.

Second Angel, in Rosamond (c. 1707), Act III, sc. i.

“Heroes in books should be so much better than heroes got up for the world's common wear and tear”
Source: Framley Parsonage (1861), Ch. 21

“To arm a hand more powerful than your own
Is an ill method to maintain the throne.”
Non è la via di dominar, se vuoi
Por l'arme in mano a chi può più di noi.
Canto XX, stanza 52 (tr. W. S. Rose)
Orlando Furioso (1532)

“You are the Hero of your own Story.”