# What is the origin of this phrase? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 26, 2007, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase/409466 "2007-06-26T13:36:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2007, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase/409466/1 "2007-06-26T13:36:15Z")
For years I have been saying, “Choose your enemy well, for ye shall surely become like him,” but I don’t remember the origin. I am probably quoting some movie I saw on late night cable as a kid, but does anyone know? Did I make it up? Thanks for your help, Rob ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2007, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase/409466/2 "2007-06-26T14:50:10Z")
[http://www.newjerusalemnetwork.net/emmanuel/choose.html](http://www.newjerusalemnetwork.net/emmanuel/choose.html) This website references your quote, although it attributes it to “author unknown.” That’s about all a quick google search turned up. Note: I haven’t read the site I am linking to, and have no idea if it is lunacy or not (I see it has something to do with “race”). I only link to it to reference the quote at the top. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase/409466/3 "2007-06-26T15:55:34Z")
“We have met the enemy and he is us” > **[Pogo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pogo)** > > Pogo, PoGo or POGO may refer to: ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2007, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase/409466/4 "2007-06-26T16:10:38Z")
[QUOTE=Peter Morris] “We have met the enemy and he is us” > **[Pogo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pogo)** > > Pogo, PoGo or POGO may refer to: [/QUOTE] Walt Kelly was parodying Oliver Hazard Perry’s “We have met the enemy and they are ours”. In various forms, the OP’s phrase probably goes back much further. My usual rendition is “Choose your enemies well, for it is them you will most come to resemble”. I’ve tried to dig up a solid attribution before, but it’s credited to many people in many different forms. ---
**Author:** ![\_edited\_to\_fit\_your\_screen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/858c86/32.png) [@\_edited\_to\_fit\_your\_screen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_edited_to_fit_your_screen)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase/409466/5 "2007-06-26T16:16:29Z")
I’ve often heard Love your enemy as you love yourself. No sure what that one is supposed to mean. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-this-phrase/409466/6 "2007-06-26T17:21:13Z")
> [@'\[edited:](#): > > ']I’ve often heard Love your enemy as you love yourself. No sure what that one is supposed to mean. I think you mean, **“Love you neighbor as you love yourself.”** Jesus means to love others as much as you love yourself(which is probably quite a bit). You may be confusing it with his other statement, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: **Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.** ” There, he is saying to, well, love your enemies even if they are against you or attack you.