"A civilized nation can have no enemies, and one cannot draw a line across a map, a line that doesn't even exist in nature and say that the ugly enemy lives on the one side, and good friends live on the other"
- Thor Heyerdahl
About this Quote
This quote by Thor Heyerdahl talks to the idea that nations should not be divided by approximate lines, and that the concept of opponents is a social construct. Heyerdahl is recommending that nations need to not be divided by imaginary lines, which the concept of enemies is an incorrect one. He is saying that a civilized country must not have opponents, which the idea of enemies is a product of human creativity. He is also suggesting that the idea of buddies and bad opponents is a false dichotomy, and that it is possible to have excellent relationships with people on both sides of a line. Heyerdahl is advocating for a world where nations are not divided by imaginary lines, and where people can have good relationships with each other regardless of their nationality. He is recommending that a civilized country needs to not have enemies, and that the concept of enemies is a false one. He is promoting for a world where individuals can have good relationships with each other regardless of their nationality.