2 OF 48 LAWS OF POWER

TWO:NEVER PUT TOO MUCH TRUST IN FRIENDS,LEARN HOW TO USE ENEMIES

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.

It is natural to want to employ your friends when you find yourself in times of need.The world is a harsh place,and your friends soften the harshness.Besides,you know them.Why depend on a stranger when you have a friend at hand?

The problem is that you often do not know your friends as well as you imagine.Friends often agree on things in order to avoid an argument.They cover up their unpleasant qualities so as to not offend each other.They laugh extra hard at each other's jokes.Since honesty rarely strengthens friendship,you may never know how a friend truly feels.Friends will say that they love your poetry,adore your music,envy your taste in clothes-maybe they mean it,often they do not.

Never let the presence of enemies upset or distress you-you are far better off with a declared opponent or two than not knowing where your real enemies lie.The man of power welcomes conflict,using enemies to enhance his reputation as a surefooted fighter who can be relied upon in times of uncertainty.

The reversal of or to this law is that although it is generally best not to mix work with friendship,there are times when a friend can be used to greater effect than an enemy.A man of power,for example,often has dirty work that has to be done,but for the sake of appearances it is generally preferable to have other people do it for him;friends often do this the best,since their affection for him makes them willing to take chances.Also,if your plans go awry for some reason,you can use a friend as a convenient scapegoat.This 'fall of the favorite' was a trick often used by kings and sovereigns:They would let their closest friend at court take the fall for a mistake,since the public would not believe that they would deliberately sacrifice a friend for such a purpose.Of course,after you play that card,you have lost your friend forever.It is best,then,to reserve the scapegoat role for someone who is to you but not too close.

Finally,the problem about working with friends is that it confuses the boundaries and distances that working requires.But if both partners in the arrangement understands the dangers involved,a friend often can be employed to great effect.You must never let your guard down in such a venture,however;always be on the lookout for any signs of emotional disturbance such as envy and ingratitude.Nothing is stable in the realm of power,and even the closest of friends can be transformed into the worst of enemies.