But most of us are apt to settle within ourselves that the man who blocks our way is odious, and not to mind causing him a little of the disgust which his personality excites in ourselves.
Given a sufficient number of people and an adequate amount of time you can create insurmountable opposition to the most inconsequential idea.
Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices, but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.
He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper. This amicable conflict with difficulty helps us to an intimate acquaintance with our object, and compels us to consider it in all its relations. It will not suffer us to be superficial.
I have spent many years of my life in opposition and I like the role.
I love opposition that has convictions.
I respect only those who resist me; but I cannot tolerate them.
If it is once again one against forty-eight, then I am very sorry for the forty-eight.
It is easy and dismally enervating to think of opposition as merely perverse or actually evil — far more invigorating to see it as essential for honing the mind, and as a positive good in itself. For the day that moral issues cease to be fought over is the day the word ''human'' disappears from the race.
Many a man's strength is in opposition, and when he faileth, he grows out of use.
Men are not against you; they are merely for themselves.
No government can be long secure without a formidable opposition. It reduces their supporters to that tractable number which can be managed by the joint influences of fruition and hope. It offers vengeance to the discontented, and distinction to the ambitious; and employs the energies of aspiring spirits, who otherwise may prove traitors in a division or assassins in a debate.
One-fifth of the people are against everything all the time.
Opposition always enflames the enthusiast, never converts him.
Opposition is not necessarily enmity; it is merely misused and made an occasion for enmity.
Opposition is true friendship.
The opposition is indispensable. A good statesman, like any other sensible human being, always learns more from his opponents than from his fervent supporters. For his supporters will push him to disaster unless his opponents show him where the dangers are. So if he is wise he will often pray to be delivered from his friends, because they will ruin him. But though it hurts, he ought also to pray never to be left without opponents; for they keep him on the path of reason and good sense.
Wherever there is a parliament, there must of necessity be an opposition.