PhrasesHub

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

    Definitions

      • build relationships
        Emphasize the importance of maintaining close relationships with friends, as well as keeping a closer eye on enemies in order to anticipate their actions and protect oneself.

      • be strategic
        Encourage someone to be strategic in their relationships and interactions, by keeping friends close for support and keeping enemies closer for potential gain or advantage.

      • caution about trust
        Caution against blindly trusting friends and enemies alike, and instead advising to be aware and mindful of their intentions and actions.

    Examples of Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

    • The CEO decided to promote her rival within the company, thinking that keeping her enemies closer would give her a better understanding of her weaknesses and help her to outmaneuver her in the future.

      This idiom means that it's wise to monitor and observe those who you perceive as your enemies, as this can provide you with valuable insights into their behavior and motivations. By keeping them close, you can better anticipate their actions and respond accordingly.

    • After a heated argument with her best friend, Sarah realized that she needed to keep her friends close in order to prevent similar conflicts from arising in the future. She started making more of an effort to communicate openly and honestly with her friends, and as a result, their relationships grew stronger.

      This idiom can also be applied to positive relationships, as it emphasizes the importance of maintaining strong connections with those who matter most to us. By keeping our friends close, we can foster a sense of trust and intimacy that can help us to weather any challenges that come our way.

    • In order to succeed in a highly competitive industry, many business leaders adopt a strategy of keeping their enemies closer. By staying informed about the activities and strategies of their competitors, they can anticipate their moves and respond accordingly.

      This idiom highlights the importance of staying informed and vigilant in order to stay ahead of the competition. By keeping our enemies closer, we can better understand their strengths and weaknesses, and use this knowledge to our advantage.

    • As a manager, John realized that keeping his employees closer could help him to identify and address any issues within the team before they escalated into larger problems. By fostering open communication and encouraging his team members to share their thoughts and concerns, he was able to create a more cohesive and productive work environment.

      This idiom can also be applied to managing teams and organizations, as it emphasizes the importance of fostering open communication and collaboration. By keeping our employees closer, we can better understand their needs and concerns, and use this knowledge to create a more effective and productive work environment.

    • After a contentious political campaign, the winning candidate realized that keeping his opponents closer could help him to build a more inclusive and unified government. By reaching out to his opponents and inviting them to participate in the decision-making process, he was able to create a more collaborative and effective government.

      This idiom can also be applied to politics and governance, as it emphasizes the importance of building consensus and collaboration. By keeping our opponents closer, we can better understand their perspectives and concerns, and use this knowledge to create more effective and inclusive policies and decisions.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "keep your friends close and your enemies closer" is often used to emphasize the importance of building and maintaining relationships, and being strategic in one's interactions. It also serves as a reminder to not blindly trust others, but to be aware and cautious of their intentions.

    Origin of "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer"

    This idiom is believed to originate from the ancient Chinese military strategist and philosopher, Sun Tzu, in his famous book "The Art of War". In the book, he writes, "Keep your friends close, your enemies closer." This was meant to advise military leaders to keep a close watch on their enemies in order to anticipate their movements and protect themselves.

    The idiom gained popularity in modern times after being used in the movie "The Godfather" by mafia boss Michael Corleone. He explains, "My father taught me many things here - he taught me in this room. He taught me 'keep your friends close but your enemies closer'." This usage further solidified the idiom's meaning of being strategic and aware in relationships.

    In conclusion, the idiom "keep your friends close and your enemies closer" has its roots in ancient military strategy, but has since been adopted in everyday language to convey the importance of building relationships and being cautious in one's interactions.