Lord, protect me from my friends; I can take care of my enemies.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that friends can sometimes be more dangerous than enemies due to betrayal or deceit.
This quote by Robert Greene highlights the complex dynamics of relationships, emphasizing that those close to us, often our friends, can pose greater risks than our enemies. While we may expect loyalty and support from friends, their potential to cause harm through betrayal or manipulation can be surprisingly destructive, leading to the realization that one must be vigilant, even among allies.
In practice
This quote can be used in a motivational speech addressing trust in relationships.
In a society where the roles everyone plays are obvious, the refusal to conform to any standard will excite interest. Be both masculine and feminine, impudent and charming, subtle and outrageous. Let other people worry about being socially acceptable; those types are a dime a dozen, and you are after a power greater than they can imagine.
When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike.
The moment people feel they know what to expect from you, your spell on them is broken. More: You have ceded them power.
The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.
The Nihilistic Troll might pretend to be acting in the service of some cause or leader, but don't be fooled. The cause and their supposedly strong convictions are simply a way to justify and provide cover for their abusive behavior.
Only create associations with positive affinities. Make this a rule of life and you will benefit more than from all the therapy in the world.
Nearly all marriages, even happy ones, are mistakes: in the sense that almost certainly (in a more perfect world, or even with a little more care in this very imperfect one) both partners might be found more suitable mates. But the real soul-mate is the one you are actually married to.
I think women and children and older people are the three least-respected groups in our society.
He was well aware that of the two of three thousand times he had made love (how many times had he made love in his life?) only two or three were really essential and unforgettable. The rest were mere echoes, imitations, repetitions, or reminiscences.
My own approach has always been to push intense emotions down and attempt to deal with them later. When I was younger, I was terrified to express anger because it would often kick-start a horrible reaction in the men in my life.
I'm an orphan. But the public has adopted me, and that has been my only family. The biggest family in the world is my fans.
Marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures.
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