“The enemy of my enemy is my friend”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
The phrase suggests that two parties can find common ground and ally with each other against a shared adversary, even if they are not naturally aligned or are otherwise unfriendly.
Tone Pragmatic and strategic.
Where it comes from
The phrase is believed to have originated from an ancient Sanskrit saying that appeared in the Arthashastra, an ancient Indian treatise on politics, military strategy, and economic policy, written by Kautilya (Chanakya) in the 4th century BCE.
Examples
- During the war, the two rival nations became allies, following the principle that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
- Despite their differences, the two political parties worked together, because the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
- The two small companies teamed up against a giant competitor: the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
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