Friendships and rivalries shape our personal and professional lives. Understanding how to manage both can give you an edge in success, influence, and decision-making.

Why you should be cautious with friends? Friends can become jealous and betray you – When you help them rise, they might resent their dependence on you. Friends often take their relationship for granted and might not work as hard or remain as loyal as expected. Friends can have hidden motives. A friend might support you not out of pure loyalty, but for personal gain.

Enemies can be more useful because they are predictable. Unlike friends, enemies’ intentions are clear. You know where they stand. An enemy who joins your side may work harder to gain your trust and redeem themselves because they always have something to prove. Mutual benefit can outweigh personal grudges when historical rivalries often turn into powerful alliances when both sides see a bigger advantage.

One of the best historical examples is Emperor Otto von Bismarck of Germany. Rather than surrounding himself solely with friends, he often employed former rivals in his government. This strategy kept potential threats close and ensured his enemies were working for him rather than against him.

Applying the above rule, in workplace one shouldn’t blindly trust a friend with important responsibilities—professionalism and competence should always come first. In personal life one should be aware that friendships can change, and sometimes rivals or former enemies may prove more reliable than those closest to you. Even in politics, strategic alliances, even with adversaries, can be more beneficial than relying solely on trusted allies.

Friendships are fragile, and loyalty is often based on circumstances rather than genuine affection. Understanding human nature allows one to navigate relationships wisely—sometimes, an enemy can be a more valuable asset than a friend.