Those who insist on having hostilities with us, kill and destroy

"Those who insist on having hostilities with us, kill and destroy the option of friendship with us in the future, which is unfortunate because it is clear the future belongs to Iran and that enmities will be fruitless." Thus spoke Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, once President of Iran, in the midst of a world divided by suspicion and pride. His words, though steeped in the rhetoric of politics, rise beyond the moment and touch upon a truth that has echoed since the dawn of civilization: that enmity, once kindled, consumes not only the present but also the hope of reconciliation yet to come. He warns that hatred is a fire that devours both victor and vanquished, and that friendship, once destroyed, cannot easily be rebuilt.

In the ancient world, the sages often taught that the path of war is short, but the shadow it casts is long. Nations and men alike are bound by their memories, and when the sword replaces the word, the bridge of understanding collapses into ruin. Ahmadinejad’s words, though spoken in defiance, reveal this paradox: that to cling to hostility is to deny oneself the blessing of future peace. For friendship, whether between individuals or nations, is not merely a sentiment — it is an opportunity, a door that must remain open if humanity is to advance. To destroy that door through anger or pride is to condemn both sides to a barren future.

Consider the lesson of Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Empire, whose reign still echoes through history. He conquered vast lands, but his greatness lay not in conquest, but in his mercy. After triumphing over Babylon, he did not crush his enemies, but restored their temples and freed their captives. His wisdom was this: that lasting power is built not through fear, but through friendship and respect. He understood what Ahmadinejad alludes to — that the destiny of a nation does not lie in endless struggle, but in the ability to turn foes into allies, and enmity into harmony. For fruitless hostility breeds only exhaustion; friendship yields strength renewed.

Ahmadinejad’s assertion that “the future belongs to Iran” speaks not only to national pride but to a broader truth about faith in destiny. Every people believes the future belongs to them when they are certain of their purpose and rooted in their history. Yet his statement also carries a warning — that to claim the future while sowing division is to build on sand. True greatness, for any nation or soul, lies not in dominion over others, but in mastery over one’s own anger. The fruitlessness of enmity is not a sign of weakness, but of wisdom. For those who seek to destroy the chance of peace destroy their own inheritance of stability and honor.

Throughout history, the cycles of hostility and reconciliation have shown that the wise do not glory in vengeance. When the United States and Japan, once bitter enemies in the fires of war, found the courage to build friendship in the decades that followed, both nations rose to unprecedented prosperity. Where hatred might have endured for generations, understanding triumphed instead. This is the fruit of foresight — the recognition that even after the darkest conflict, the door to friendship must never be sealed entirely.

Ahmadinejad’s words, then, may be read as both a challenge and a lament. He declares that those who persist in hostility will one day find their efforts hollow, for the march of time favors those who seek creation over destruction. To kill the option of friendship is to reject the very path that leads to peace, progress, and mutual dignity. He implies that the wise must look beyond pride and power, and see the deeper truth: the future cannot be conquered by hate, for hate has no future.

Lesson: To nurture hostility is to impoverish the soul, whether in the heart of a man or the heart of a nation. The true strength of any people lies in their ability to forgive, to seek understanding, and to keep open the possibility of friendship, even in times of conflict.

Practical action: When discord arises — in life, in work, in the world — resist the impulse to close the door. Speak the difficult word of peace, even when the easier word is anger. Remember that every insult returned, every bridge burned, narrows the future. Whether you are a leader or a humble soul, strive to build relationships that endure beyond strife. For as history and the wisdom of the ancients teach, enmity is fleeting, but friendship, once restored, builds empires that last for generations.