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About this quote

What does it mean?
Enemies tell the truth, while friends hide it due to loyalty or duty.
In plain terms
Enemies are honest; friends lie to protect relationships.
What can you take from it?
Truth often comes from adversaries, not allies.

Where it applies

  • workplace feedback
  • political rivalry
  • personal conflict

Putting it to work

  • listen to critics
  • ask for hard truths
  • balance loyalty with honesty

Questions to consider

  • Who told you the hard truth?
  • Do you avoid uncomfortable feedback?

Another view

Some enemies lie to manipulate, and some friends speak hard truths.

More from Stephen King

  1. No, it's not a very good story - its author was too busy listening to other voices to listen as closely as he should have to the one coming from inside.

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  2. People think that I must be a very strange person. This is not correct. I have the heart of a small boy... It is in a glass jar on my desk.

    Permalink to quote #148
  3. It's better to be good than evil, but one achieves goodness at a terrific cost.

    Permalink to quote #145

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