“Always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.”
— Richard Nixon
Nixon understood this truth but couldn’t live by it.
It wasn’t hatred that destroyed him so much as fear, fear of losing control, of humiliation, of appearing weak. That fear hardened into resentment, and resentment justified secrecy, retaliation, and the tightening grip that became Watergate.
His downfall wasn’t only political; it was emotional. He mistook suspicion for strength and control for character. He believed resilience meant never yielding — when real strength might have been transparency and humility.
Nixon’s tragedy reminds us how easy it is to betray our own wisdom. He saw clearly that hatred destroys the self, yet could not escape the emotions that mirrored it: defensiveness, distrust, and pride.
In the end, what destroyed him wasn’t his enemies; it was the story he told himself about them.
Interesting Nixon Quotes
“The greatness comes not when things always go well for you. But the greatness comes when you’re tested, when you take some knocks, some disappointments, when sadness comes.”
“Remarks on Departure From the White House.”
“Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. I’d appreciate it if you could find another way. And don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines.”
Richard Nixon Quote