--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thou can'st not joke an enemy into a…" description: "\"Thou can'st not joke an enemy into a friend, but thou may'st a friend into an enemy.\" — Benjamin Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/benjamin-franklin-65_enemy_thou-can-st-not-joke-an-enemy-into-a-fri_161719.png" --- # Thou can'st not joke an enemy into a friend, but thou… ![“Thou can'st not joke an enemy into a friend, but thou may'st a friend into an enemy.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/benjamin-franklin-65_enemy_thou-can-st-not-joke-an-enemy-into-a-fri_161719.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/benjamin-franklin-65_enemy_thou-can-st-not-joke-an-enemy-into-a-fri_161719.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/benjamin-franklin-65_enemy_thou-can-st-not-joke-an-enemy-into-a-fri_161719.png) > “Thou can'st not joke an enemy into a friend, but thou may'st a friend into an enemy.” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. You cannot force an enemy to become a friend, but you can turn a friend into an enemy. **In simple terms:** Friendship can be broken, but enemies rarely become friends. Key Takeaway Treat relationships with care. Themes trust conflict relationships Mood cautious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - politics - personal friendships - teamwork Key Concepts reciprocity social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain trust? - What actions damage friendships? A Different Perspective Not all friendships are fragile; some are resilient. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) ## Related quotes > [Be civil to all; serviceable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/be-civil-to-all-serviceable-to-many-familiar-with-few-friend-to-one/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Ist sad how ur love use to laugh and joke around u but after they found out there enemy to u and ur just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shabana/ist-sad-how-ur-love-use-to-laugh-and-joke-around-u-but-after-they/) [Shabana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shabana/) > [Lend money to an enemy, and thou will gain him, to a friend and thou will lose him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/lend-money-to-an-enemy-and-thou-will-gain-him-to-a-friend-and-thou/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“If the enemy of my enemy is my friend, then a friend of my enemy, is my enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pyreglide/if-the-enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend-then-a-friend-of-my-enemy-is-my/) Pyreglide > [“You coming with us?” “Not this time. I’ve got a different errand to run.” “Okay.” She reached up and tucked my hair behind my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/you-coming-with-us-not-this-time-i-ve-got-a-different-errand-to-run/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [Situations change from time to time. A friend may become an enemy and an enemy a friend. Life is inconsistent and ever changing. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/situations-change-from-time-to-time-a-friend-may-become-an-enemy-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Give one thousand chance to your enemy to become your friend but do not give one chance to your friend to become your enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-one-thousand-chance-to-your-enemy-to-become-your-friend-but-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The enemy of my enemy is my friend, men said, but the other side of that coin was, the enemy of my friend is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend-men-said-but-the-other-side-of/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [You have to be a friend to yourself. You know, 'cause if you're not a friend to yourself, you're an enemy to yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/you-have-to-be-a-friend-to-yourself-you-know-cause-if-you-re-not-a/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [“It is easier for an ambitious friend to become an enemy than for an enemy to become a friend. It is even easier to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/it-is-easier-for-an-ambitious-friend-to-become-an-enemy-than-for-an/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [A friend of a friend is a friend, A friend to an enemy is an enemy, an enemy to a friend is propability and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/a-friend-of-a-friend-is-a-friend-a-friend-to-an-enemy-is-an-enemy-an/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [Do you wish to make of your enemy a friend? Then become a friend to your enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson-davis/do-you-wish-to-make-of-your-enemy-a-friend-then-become-a-friend-to/) Andrew Jackson Davis > [Give 100 chances to your enemy to be your friend, but never give a single chance to your friend to be your enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/supercsay/give-100-chances-to-your-enemy-to-be-your-friend-but-never-give-a/) Supercsay > [A God must have a God for company. And lo! thou hast the Son-God to thy friend. Thou honour'st his obedience, he thy law.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/a-god-must-have-a-god-for-company-and-lo-thou-hast-the-son-god-to-thy/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Judge not thy friend until thou standest in his place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillel-the-elder/judge-not-thy-friend-until-thou-standest-in-his-place/) [Hillel the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillel-the-elder/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More Enemy quotes > [Shall there be truth between us, as two men? Not as friends, but as enemies and equals?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/shall-there-be-truth-between-us-as-two-men-not-as-friends-but-as/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Fear is a man's worst enemy, but love is a man's most powerful weapon against anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-is-a-man-s-worst-enemy-but-love-is-a-man-s-most-powerful-weapon/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [“Never let your Enemies become your Advocates.” by A. K. Hasan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-hasan/never-let-your-enemies-become-your-advocates-by-a-k-hasan/) A.K. Hasan > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [In this business, you find the enemy, then go after and destroy him. Everything else is rubbish!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/in-this-business-you-find-the-enemy-then-go-after-and-destroy-him/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [“Enemies Teach. Friends Preach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/enemies-teach-friends-preach/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) [Browse all 7,981 Enemy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Thou can'st not joke an enemy into a friend, but thou may'st a friend into an enemy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/thou-can-st-not-joke-an-enemy-into-a-friend-but-thou-may-st-a-friend/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enemy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/thou-can-st-not-joke-an-enemy-into-a-friend-but-thou-may-st-a-friend/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/benjamin-franklin-65_enemy_thou-can-st-not-joke-an-enemy-into-a-fri_161719.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/benjamin-franklin-65_enemy_thou-can-st-not-joke-an-enemy-into-a-fri_161719.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/benjamin-franklin-65_enemy_thou-can-st-not-joke-an-enemy-into-a-fri_161719.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Thou can'st not joke an enemy into a friend, but thou may'st a friend into an enemy.” — Benjamin Franklin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Benjamin Franklin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Thou can'st not joke an enemy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/thou-can-st-not-joke-an-enemy-into-a-friend-but-thou-may-st-a-friend/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/thou-can-st-not-joke-an-enemy-into-a-friend-but-thou-may-st-a-friend/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```