Who Is a Friend and Who Is an Enemy?
The most important thing for a person is to correct oneself along the path of life. Anyone who points out your shortcomings is doing a tremendous amount of work on your behalf.
In order to discover these shortcomings (let alone correct them, but at least simply to discover them) you will run into a vast number of serious obstacles, bang your head against the wall, and get yourself into all sorts of troubles.
People suddenly end up in prison, come out years later, start over again, and so on. But someone who can truly point out your shortcomings and you are able to feel them, understand them, become aware of them, saves you an enormous amount of suffering.
Comment: We consider such a person an enemy: he pointed out my flaws, he humiliated me.
My Response: Humiliation is a different matter. I can recognize my shortcomings and at the same time be grateful that he is showing them to me. But the one who says nothing or even praises me, perhaps he praises me maliciously so that I would not pay attention to my own correction.
Question: No wonder you always say that the one who criticizes you is closer to you than the one who praises you?
Answer: Yes. Of course.
Question: Do you truly feel that way?
Answer: Yes, I do.
Question: Do you actually listen when someone suddenly tells you something critical?
Answer: I very much would like to.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman,” 4/28/26
Related Material:
“I Asked God To Punish My Enemy”
One Should Not Destroy One’s Enemies
How Do You Turn Enemies into Friends?




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