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"The enemy of my enemy"

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"The enemy of my enemy is my friend".

What if the enemy of your enemy is also an enemy?

Would this be...a "frenemy"?

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frenemy

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Then you have too many enemies and need to reconsider your life choices.

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@trev33 said
Then you have too many enemies and need to reconsider your life choices.
I can't say I have an enemy....perhaps some people I strongly dislike at times....LOL... 🙂

-VR

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@vivify said
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend".

What if the enemy of your enemy is also an enemy?

Would this be...a "frenemy"?

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frenemy
It's curious isn't it that the inverse just doesn't work in the same way -

"The friend of my friend is my enemy" ???

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@orangutan said
It's curious isn't it that the inverse just doesn't work in the same way -

"The friend of my friend is my enemy" ???
It could work on the basis of jealously.

One of my best friends growing up had a friend he met at Cubs. Boy, was I jealous of that kid, with his spikey hair and massive star wars collection. Looking back, he was my nemesis.

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-Removed-
It was the reason that the US and the UK initially supported Pol Pot.

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@vivify said
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend".

What if the enemy of your enemy is also an enemy?

Would this be...a "frenemy"?

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frenemy
Lets denote the players:
I: I
my first enemy: A
my second enemy: B

a potential third enemy: C

So in the situation that I and B have common but non interfering interests and A has competitive interests that intefere with the interest of I and A then of course there is a basis for B being my friend (even if other interests could diverge).

But if I, A and B have competitive interests in the same thing, then I could make an alliance with either, but of course after one competitor leaves I am at odds with the other. So for me it would be better to make an alliance with a competitor that is weaker than me. Since if I am the weaker one I will support one player and will get hit by him after we commonly defeated the first...

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-Removed-
It was useful in WW2, because it was the USSR that absorbed the brunt of German military capacity (75% I believe) in the European theatre where the fighting thus ended in 1945... as opposed to 1946 or 1947 or whenever.

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keep your friends close and your enemies closer...
to keep a keen eye on enemies beyond what one might have on their friends. to be vigilant about the actions taken by enemies. it's not a good idea to bother your enemies, be friendly with them but stay alert.

-VR

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@very-rusty said
keep your friends close and your enemies closer...
to keep a keen eye on enemies beyond what one might have on their friends. to be vigilant about the actions taken by enemies. it's not a good idea to bother your enemies, be friendly with them but stay alert.

-VR
What a keen insight!

Because I'm sure no one already knew what this meant.

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Unfortunately, Machiavellian quips have grown into near-cliche's.

"The Prince" was of keen service during Niccolo's time. Surely, living among the Medici's was no picnic.

But to me, cynical 500 year old political maxims no longer apply: There are far darker themes afoot.

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@suzianne said
What a keen insight!

Because I'm sure no one already knew what this meant.
I am sure you are one of the few who didn't know what it means Suzie Q! 😉

BTW: You're Welcome! 🙂

-VR