“ Some people are nobody's enemies but their own, yer know. ”
Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist (1838). copy citation
| Author | Charles Dickens |
|---|---|
| Source | Oliver Twist |
| Topic | enemy friend |
| Date | 1838 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/730/730-h/730-h.htm |
Context
“'Every man's his own friend, my dear,' replied Fagin, with his most insinuating grin. 'He hasn't as good a one as himself anywhere.'
'Except sometimes,' replied Morris Bolter, assuming the air of a man of the world. 'Some people are nobody's enemies but their own, yer know.'
'Don't believe that,' said Fagin. 'When a man's his own enemy, it's only because he's too much his own friend; not because he's careful for everybody but himself. Pooh! Pooh! There ain't such a thing in nature.'” source
'Except sometimes,' replied Morris Bolter, assuming the air of a man of the world. 'Some people are nobody's enemies but their own, yer know.'
'Don't believe that,' said Fagin. 'When a man's his own enemy, it's only because he's too much his own friend; not because he's careful for everybody but himself. Pooh! Pooh! There ain't such a thing in nature.'” source
Meaning and analysis
