Explaining "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer"

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 19/01/2025, 21:25

English.me team member

What does it mean?

The phrase "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer" suggests that it's wise to maintain a close relationship with your adversaries. By doing so, you can monitor their actions, understand their motives, and anticipate their moves, which can give you a strategic advantage.

Tone

Cautionary and strategic

Origin

The phrase is widely attributed to the Italian political strategist Niccolò Machiavelli, who wrote extensively about power dynamics in his 1532 book "The Prince". The original phrase translates into English as "The new Prince must strive to hold close his allies, but it is of more importance to hold close his enemies". The modern wording of the phrase became popular through its use in contemporary contexts, such as the 1974 movie "The Godfather Part II".

Examples of usage

In the tumultuous world of corporate mergers, she knew to keep her friends close and her enemies closer.
He invited his critics to the conference, adhering to the principle of keeping his friends close and his enemies closer.