“The bullet would have surely shot the Batman!
But his arch nemesis The Joker came in the way!
Bewildering everyone! He said! Being his enemy is my life!
Don’t shoot and take my life away!”
Everyone knows the adage, “A friend in need is a friend indeed” but it brings into question why a phrase like this is needed since the very definition of a friend is a person who would anyway help you!
This is when this amazing book called the 48 Law of power by Robert Greene comes into mind! In the very second law he states that you must never Put Too Much Trust in Friends; Learn How to Use Enemies. Keep a close eye on your friends — they easily become envious and resentful, and will undermine you!
In contrast, if you promote an enemy, he’ll be more loyal than a friend in an effort to prove himself. So use your enemies!
While a friend expects more and more favors, and seethes with jealousy, these former enemies expected nothing and got everything!
A man suddenly spared the guillotine is a grateful man indeed, and will go to the ends of the earth for the man who has pardoned him!
The author also talks about the Emperor Sung of China (he became the emperor in 959), who managed to break the pattern of coups, violence and civil war by making his former enemies his friends.
The collapse of the T’ang brought chaos to China as numerous dynasties vied for control. After 50 years of turmoil, one ruler emerged to re-unite the country. Donning the yellow robe, he declared himself T’ai-tsu, Emperor of the Sung. His dynasty would last 319 years!
Japan was nearing the end of the Sengoku Jidai (“Warring States Period”) when lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi wrapped up the unification of Japan that had begun under his predecessor Oda Nobunaga. Unlike his former lord, Hideyoshi made judicious use of mercy to turn former enemies into allies. Those who opposed him in one campaign would become the vanguard of the next. This snowballing effect allowed Hideyoshi to bring Japan under his rule by 1591!
Another story like this but closer to us is the story of Chanakya and a minster of the enemy called the Rakhsasa. Now the minister of the enemy made lots of attempts to kill Chanakya’s king Chandragupta but Chanakya always spoilt his plans!
In one instance, he saved a soldier of Rakhsasa from being killed for punishment and that soldier not only became his friend but also his trusted spy! Which made the job of Chanakya much easier!
After several attempts by Rakhsasa on Chandraguta’s life he was finally left with nothing but hate and desperation! He also understood though that Chankya is a formidable enemy and the masters Rakhsasa was trying to protect and support were incapable of their post!
At this juncture Chanakya offered him the place of Chandragupta’s Minister! It was a master stroke! In spite of being the enemy Rakhsasa was actually a clever minister, only that Chanakya was more clever!
Chanakya then had nothing to worry about and retired to his Ashram while his king was safe in the hands of Rakhsasa!
If you make your biggest enemy your friend then he or she will make sure that the responsibility they have been given will be fulfilled with utmost sincerity which you may not get from your friend!
So if you have a nemesis or a great enemy; reach out to him or her and maybe he or she may help you out in ways you could not have imagined!
It is also difficult to imagine now how one of the cult comedies made in Bharat had the birthday celebrity Satish Ravilal Shah as a corpse for the most part of the film but still played the most important part in a hilarious way!
Do not watch that movie if you want to sleep! But do watch it if you want to laugh hysterically!
Shubh Ratri!
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