proverb · Words worth keeping
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying turns a shared enemy into a friend. It treats opposition to the same person or group as a basis for alliance.
What the words are saying
The equation confuses a common aim with trust or affection. A critical explanation asks whether the shared opposition is justified and what the parties actually agree on. It does not endorse harming an opponent or prove that a temporary ally is dependable.
Everyday example
A reader distinguishes agreement on one issue from a wider relationship of trust.
When to use it
Use it to examine a claimed alliance with motives and limits assessed.
What it does not mean
Shared opposition does not establish friendship, justification for harm or lasting loyalty.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 696; PDF page 100
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.