Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How to Use Enemies | 48 Laws of Power - Deepstash

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Be Wary of Friends

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.

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1.11K reads

Keep Friends for Friendship, But Work With The Skilled

Keep Friends for Friendship, But Work With The Skilled

  • Though you think friends are trustworthy, you do not know your friends nearly as well as you imagine.
  • A friend will often tell you a sweet lie because they don’t want to hurt your feelings.
  • Sometimes they mean their words, sometimes they don’t.
  • Your goal is to get things done, the better choice is to work with those who are most competent rather than just hiring friends – this is ideal both for your enterprise and your personal development.

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840 reads

Ingratitude Will Kill You

Ingratitude Will Kill You

  • People do not like owing a debt to someone else.
  • When you help someone in a major way, they feel burden of debt in their soul, and they subconsciously resent you for it.
  • They want to feel that they deserve their good fortune.
  • When they know that they were chosen because of friendship, not necessarily because they were more deserving, they feel resentful
  • You will see this resentment slowly: flashes of envy here and there, and before you know it, you’d have lost your friend.
  • Show some gratitude before friendship goes to astray.

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ABRAHAM LINCO

You destroy your enemies once you befriend them.

ABRAHAM LINCO

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Hire Your Enemies Once You Befriend Them.

Hire Your Enemies Once You Befriend Them.

  • Your former enemies don’t expect much from you and will be more loyal to you because they have more to prove.
  • A man who has something to prove will move mountains for you.

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838 reads

Keep Some Enemies Around to Keep You Sharp

Keep Some Enemies Around to Keep You Sharp

  • Without competition, it’s harder to grow stronger because without competition, you lack that extrinsic motivation – the desire to be better than others.
  • You will be more alert, productive, and industrious when you have a few declared enemies – you can’t afford to take it too easy.

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707 reads

Opportunities o Test Yourself

Opportunities o Test Yourself

  • Without enemies around us, we grow lazy.
  • An enemy at out heels sharpens our wits, keeping us focused and alert
  • It is sometimes better then, to use enemies as enemies rather than transforming them into friends or allies.

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769 reads

IDEAS CURATED BY

nauajishrahman

Hi! I'm studying Engineering in Bangladesh University of Textiles. Reading books, articles and essays are my hobbies. I like to learn new ideas and share as well. Feel free to interact with me

CURATOR'S NOTE

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.

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