What Does 'I Have No Enemies' Mean? Here's The Lore Behind The 'Vinland Saga' Manga Quote That Inspired A Meme Trend

The manga series Vinland Saga has slowly accrued an internet following comparable to that of Berserk and One Piece, but it didn't inspire as many memes as either of those popular pieces of fiction until the 2020s.

The phrase ""I have no enemies":https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/i-have-no-enemies has been making the rounds in meme circles for a few years now, but a series of viral TikToks have cemented the manga's popularity in mainstream culture. Here are the origins of the phrase and how it is used in memes.

Where Does The Line 'I Have No Enemies' Come From?

The line comes from the manga Vinland Saga, which has been serialized in Shonen Jump since 2006. Vinland Saga was created by Makoto Yukimura and follows the story of Thorfinn, an orphaned mercenary who swears to avenge the death of his father, Thors.

A scene where Thors tells his son Thorfinn that he has "no enemies" is a repeating motif throughout the series. The phrase is meant to convey to Thorfinn that peace is always an option rather than violence. It first appeared in chapter seven, was repeated in chapter 70, and was uttered by Thorfinn himself in chapter 96.

How Is The Line Used In Memes?

Some of the earliest known memes to reference the scene and use the phrase were posted to the subreddit /r/VinlandSaga after 2021.

What Is The Most Popular Format For 'I Have No Enemies' Memes?

The most popular format for memes using the phrase "I have no enemies" is TikTok, with the platform having over several million views for the hashtag #ihavenoenemies.

For the full history of ""I have no enemies,"" be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.