I Like a Good Quote

“Be wary of friends—they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.”
― Robert Greene, The 48 Laws of Power

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firefall · 61-69, M

That might be the dumbest thing I've read this year. Although, true, it's only February.

Hire a former enemy and you empower him and allow him to become a current enemy again - probably without you being aware of the change ... until too late, anyway.

As for friends, if you're wedded to the autocratic pursuit of power, you don't have friends. You have subjects, enemies, and allies ... and you never fully trust allies. If on the other hand, you pursue the collaborative building of a power structure, your friends -are- your strength.