what does the quote "Keep you friends close, but your enemies closer" mean?

Question

and if u can connect to lord of the flies that'd be great

Answer 1

Go look it all up so that you understand it and then form your own opinion about the phrase. It was around long before The Lord of the Flies was written. Basically it means your friends you can trust more and do not need to watch like you need to watch your enemies such that do not separate from them so you do not know what they are up to, etc.
I think in this case it is a play on the fact that once they were friends then they became enemies on the island.
Whatever you say if it is what you got out of the book and out of your life along with the phrase is not wrong if you really thought about it.
If you separate yourself from your enemies like many countries do anyone including the make a buck news media can say things about you in other countries. That is what I think about when I think of this phrase.

It is the nature of the beast to see someone who is different as threatening such that one needs to make sure that they understand they are not the enemy.
Animal Farm and Lord of the Rings are the statements and opinions of authors in books. I find the books to be ugly portraits of humans by authors who have a negative viewpoint of human life. They are not fact they are works of fiction that I do not particularily like and think they would be better thrown in the garbage but I think they represent the type of people who are painting a self portrait of themselves what they are capable inside often or their bad opinions of others. The authors remind me of the snide people on the internet who like to flame people and who like to harass people on Yahoo answers. I did not like these books because I know life to not be watered down in any aspect like this or extreme like this but it does happen. E.g. where the man shoots his retarded friend in the book is similar to the soldiers shooting an Iraqi insurgent they are sure will die a slow miserable death to put him out of his misery because they are probably farm boys. As to Lord of the Flies my view of that is that it is related to having an ugly leader with followers who follow the loudest person not the best which happens all the time in government along with politics. So then the enemy becomes the group of people who do not think for themselves not so much an individual who often find a minority to abuse.
So I suppose you must stand amongst the ignorant majority who do not think for themselves not upset them and talk softly but carry a big stick to protect yourselves I guess (a very persuasive soft good argument that offends no one to change the tide of ignorance from washing over everyone.)

Answer 2

Haven't seen Lord of the Flies. But this quote means that you don't have to worry about your friends. But your enemies you should keep an eye on at all times.

Answer 3

Well, its generally used along the same lines as "know your enemy". basically, make sure you know exactly what your enemies are doing, what their motives, plans, feelings are, etc., by keeping them close. Its also pointing out that you should do this with friends too, but not as closely as your enemies because you simply dont need to.

And to connect it to the lord of the flies... hmmm. You know how the hunters went off and made their own camp, and the main character (i forget his name) was left in the original camp? he didnt know what they were up to at all, so he was found at a disadvantage because he didnt realize how serious they were.

Answer 4

Gosh it's been a long time since I read lord of the flies but i'll try....
If you keep your enemies close to you, so to speak, you have a better chance of predicting what they are going to do and maybe be able the thwart it before they get a chance.
In relation to the book, they are all stuck together in a volatile situation and forming groups. Who you choose to stick with is a life and death situation....it's better to keep the people you don't trust close by so they can't get the better of you.

Answer 5

friends are normally people you can trust, so you should keep them close in your life. Enemies are noramally the people opposite of your friends and they have it out to get you. SO you need to keep them CLOSER in your life so you know just what they are up to.

Answer 6

Exactly that! Keep your friends close and your enemies closer!!! However I recommend you love your enemies...it confuses them!!! haha

But seriously as a christian that is what I do...and recommend! :)

God bless

Answer 7

means "Watch your back."

if you don't understand your enemies, you never know when or how they will attack you.

if you can win over your enemies confidence, that gives you the upper hand.

Answer 8

It means watch your back.'