What does it mean to say ‘Keep your friends close but your enemies closer’? Is it really possible to become friends with someone who has hurt or offended you? The word ‘enemy’ comes from the Latin word enim, meaning ‘against’. In English, it means someone who is against us or our interests. For example, an enemy might be a person who wants to harm us physically or emotionally. This can be because you’re afraid they’ll hurt you, or because you think they might turn against you. When you say it, you’re telling others that you won’t let yourself be fooled again. The expression “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” came about because it was believed that the Mafia kept its closest allies near them and had its enemies watched closely. This meant that they knew what their enemies were doing and could act accordingly.

Source: History of English