Quote#Love
My friends are much more dangerous than my enemies. These latter –…
Quote byLafcadio Hearn · 1850–1904
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Letter to Ernest Fenollosa, December 1898, cited from Elizabeth Bisland (ed.) Life and Letters (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1923) vol. 3, p. 147..
English (original)
My friends are much more dangerous than my enemies. These latter – with infinite subtlety – spin webs to keep me out of places where I hate to go, – and tell stories of me to people whom it would be vanity and vexation to meet; – and they help me so much by their unconscious aid that I almost love them.
— Lafcadio Hearn
More from Lafcadio Hearn
Any idealism is a proper subject for art.
The time of illusion, then, is the beautiful moment of passion; it represents the artistic zone in which the poet or romance writer ought to be free to do the very best that he can.
Whatever doubts or vexations one has in Japan, it is only necessary to ask one's self: "Well, who are the best people to live with?"
Japanese affection is not uttered in words; it scarcely appears even in the tone of voice; it is chiefly shown in acts of exquisite courtesy and kindness.
How sweet Japanese woman is! All the possibilities of the race for goodness seem to be concentrated in her.
But what is after all the happiness of mere power? There is a greater happiness possible than to be lord of heaven and earth; that is the happiness of being truly loved.