{"id":998,"date":"2019-09-16T12:55:01","date_gmt":"2019-09-16T16:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=998"},"modified":"2025-10-03T10:57:37","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T14:57:37","slug":"48-laws-of-power-law-2-never-put-too-much-trust-in-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/48-laws-of-power-law-2-never-put-too-much-trust-in-friends\/","title":{"rendered":"48 Laws of Power | Law 2: Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Overview of Law #2: Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends; Learn How to Use Enemies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Keep a close eye on your friends \u2014 they easily become envious and resentful, and will undermine you. In contrast, if you promote an enemy, he\u2019ll be more loyal than a friend in an effort to prove himself. So use your enemies. If you lack enemies, you should create some. Never put too much trust in friends. Learn how to use enemies.
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Editor\u2019s note: This article is part of\u00a0Shortform\u2019s guide to friendships<\/a>. If you like what you read here, there\u2019s plenty more to check out in the guide!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Principles<\/strong> of Law 2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We instinctively turn to friends when we need help, but you should think twice about doing this because you don\u2019t know your friends as well as you think you do<\/strong>. 
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Friends often agree with whatever you say to avoid an argument. Also, when you\u2019re friends, you cover up negative qualities so as not to offend the other person. As a result, you never know for certain how a friend truly feels. Never put too much trust in friends.
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When you\u2019re in a position of power, beware of hiring a friend<\/strong>. Hiring friends weakens you <\/strong>because your friend is rarely the one who can help you the most. You need skill and competence more than friendship. Also, friendly feelings can get in the way of what needs to be done.
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If you hire a friend, you\u2019ll discover the qualities he or she has kept hidden. In addition, your act of kindness will unbalance the relationship. Receiving a favor from you may begin to feel burdensome; people want to feel they\u2019ve earned their way. Their resentment will surface slowly \u2013 in flashes of honesty, envy, and bitterness. If you try to mend the relationship with more favors, you\u2019ll make matters worse. Never put too much trust in friends. Learn how to use enemies.
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Enemies can be more useful than friends when you can co-opt them<\/strong>. The key to choosing which ones is gauging who is best able to further your interests<\/a>. When you can overcome past grievances and enlist an enemy in your service, he can be a great resource.
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Other Uses for Enemies Include: 
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