The term enemy of the people is a fluid designation of political or class opponents of the group using the term. The term implies that the "enemies" in question are acting against society as a whole. It is similar to the notion of "enemy of the state". The term originated in Roman times as Latin: hostis publicus, typically translated into English as the "public enemy". The term in its "enemy of the people" form has been used for centuries in literature ("An Enemy of the People", the play by Henrik Ibsen, 1882). Currently this form is mostly used as a reference to Soviet phraseology.
Read more about Enemy Of The People: Origins of The Expression, Soviet Union
Famous quotes containing the words the people, enemy and/or people:
“The good of the people is the greatest law.”
—Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 B.C.)
“Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable, and others extremely difficult.”
—Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
“When a great many people are unable to find work, unemployment results.”
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)