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Frenemies are worse than enemies, and it's not just in the workplace.
Adam Grant
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Frenemies can be more damaging than outright enemies because their deceit is often disguised as friendship.

The quote by Adam Grant highlights the complexities of relationships where individuals portray a façade of friendship while secretly harboring animosity. This duality can be particularly harmful, as the underlying tension and betrayal can lead to distrust and negative consequences in both personal and professional contexts, making frenemies potentially more toxic than clear-cut enemies.

Themes

FrenemyRelationshipsBetrayalFriendshipToxicity

In practice

Example use cases

In a team meeting, to address the importance of honesty over deceit, one might say, 'Remember, frenemies are worse than enemies.'

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Quote by Adam Grant | QuoteProject