Who are they?

Yesterday, I read Robert Greene's book, "48 Laws of Power". He made a point about not trusting friends and using enemies as sources of truth. Not simply as a source of spoken truth, but the truth that often lies hidden. Truth that no one will tell you because it can hurt your relationship.

Friends

We all have friends, most of whom we make accidentally. If we meet someone in class or at work, these people we see daily often become our friends. There are some friends we've had since childhood, but it's rare to have this kind of friend. When we make friends according to our needs, we call them networks, not friends. (At least in most cases.) They can be beneficial but aren't the type of person with whom we'd like to share our joys and sorrows. They aren't the people we want to be around outside of our imaginary beneficial circle.

Honesty

When we discuss honesty in friendship, we are not only referring to being honest about money or a daily check-in. We are talking about being honest with the truth that needs to be expressed at the right time. This includes providing feedback, assessing competencies, and expressing true feelings in one's presence.

Honesty and friendship can sound vague when we are in the same place, looking at each other's faces, but we have nothing to gain. Nothing matters. No feedback, no understanding of each other's intentions and goals in this joint venture called friendship. We just keep going until everything is alright, not something that you can use to build an empire. Honesty also means making each other aware of their capabilities and shortcomings.

Up to a certain point, this doesn't matter with regular friends. However, when you're building a business or an empire (as kings used to do) or trying to conquer an empire, this becomes relevant.

“When embarking on this journey, you will find there is no such thing as friends versus enemies—only allies and enemies.”

When you go on a journey to conquer an empire just happy faces and fake smiles would not work. On the battlefield, only two things matter what a person can do and what he can't. You trusted your friend to be someone who he is not.

In times of adversity, you can rely on your enemies. You are vigilant and aware of their every move. You are cautious and uncertain of what may occur. Moreover, if an enemy is at your side in the fight, they will work diligently to prove themselves to a former foe. They were not chosen for their loyalty or honesty. You should not expect honesty from them. They were chosen to do a specific task.

The laws of power provide many historical examples of a king who was deceived and overthrown by a close friend.

Friendship demands growth on both sides. As long as both parties are progressing in the same direction, everything is fine. However, when one friend outgrows the other, it can become difficult to sustain the relationship. In this case, the outgrowing friend will need to find friends who understand their vision and how they navigate the world. As the saying goes, "A bus has 50 seats and a Bugatti has only two".

Andrew Tate's point is clear - if one person worked hard and the other did not, why should the former consider the latter an equal or a friend? Equality between two people is essential for friendship, but this doesn't necessarily have to refer to money. Equality can take many forms such as intellect, wit, money, struggle, or a shared experience that connects them.

Final Thoughts

The truth cannot be found in the opinions of friends, but in the honesty of enemies. Honesty can be difficult, but it is essential for growth. Be wary of friends who do not tell you the truth and only flatter you.

This article does not mean to devalue friendship or suggest it is unimportant. It is essential to be mindful of who we accept as friends and when it is time to move on.

For a worthy enemy, make a close friend your enemy--they know where to strike.