--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: O God, protect me from my friends, that…" description: "\"O God, protect me from my friends, that they have not power over me. Thou hast giv'n me power to protect myself from thy bitterest enemies.\" — William ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/william-blake-397_enemy_o-god-protect-me-from-my-friends-that-th_94436.jpg" --- # O God, protect me from my friends, that they have not… ![“O God, protect me from my friends, that they have not power over me. Thou hast giv'n me power to protect myself from thy bitterest enemies.” quote by William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/william-blake-397_enemy_o-god-protect-me-from-my-friends-that-th_94436.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/william-blake-397_enemy_o-god-protect-me-from-my-friends-that-th_94436.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/william-blake-397_enemy_o-god-protect-me-from-my-friends-that-th_94436.jpg) > “O God, protect me from my friends, that they have not power over me. Thou hast giv'n me power to protect myself from thy bitterest enemies.” [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A plea for divine protection against the influence of friends, asserting personal agency against hostile forces. **In simple terms:** Divine self‑defense Key Takeaway Seek higher protection Themes spirituality autonomy trust friendship conflict Mood defiant reflective spiritual Type prayer philosophical literary When to use this quote - prayer for safety - feeling betrayed by peers - asserting independence - spiritual struggle Key Concepts self‑empowerment faith Practical Applications - personal reflection - theology Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to be protected from friends? - How does personal power relate to divine aid? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [“If thou hast seen all these without knowing what beauty is, thou hast no eyes; if without feeling its power, thou hast no heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/if-thou-hast-seen-all-these-without-knowing-what-beauty-is-thou-hast/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Therefore tremble, O man, at any power thou hast, except thou usest it for God. Art thou strong in body; who hath thy strength?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/therefore-tremble-o-man-at-any-power-thou-hast-except-thou-usest-it/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [For the power Thou hast given me to lay hold of things unseen: For the strong sense I have that this is not my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-baillie/for-the-power-thou-hast-given-me-to-lay-hold-of-things-unseen-for-the/) [John Baillie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-baillie/) > [O thou great, unknown Power! Thou Almighty God, who hast lighted up reason in my breast and blessed me with immortality! I have frequently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/o-thou-great-unknown-power-thou-almighty-god-who-hast-lighted-up/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/thou-art-worthy-o-lord-to-receive-glory-and-honour-and-power-for-thou/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [Protect me from my friends I can take care of my enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/protect-me-from-my-friends-i-can-take-care-of-my-enemies/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [A man has much growing to do if he cannot even protect his own friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-marth/a-man-has-much-growing-to-do-if-he-cannot-even-protect-his-own-friends/) Prince Marth > [Oh Lord protect me from my Friends, I know my Enemies, But I will be Damned if I know my Friends Peter Joseph Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-lord-protect-me-from-my-friends-i-know-my-enemies-but-i-will-be/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [Lord protect me from my friends, I can handle my enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bg-knocc-out/lord-protect-me-from-my-friends-i-can-handle-my-enemies/) BG Knocc Out > [“Either I protect my friends and lie low until the fight for Radiasure is over, or I put everyone in harm's way and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-whipple/either-i-protect-my-friends-and-lie-low-until-the-fight-for-radiasure/) [Natalie Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-whipple/) > [“It was sweet he was checking on me. He didn’t have to, but he knew that Blair and I were friends. Sisters, even. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-c-doyle/it-was-sweet-he-was-checking-on-me-he-didn-t-have-to-but-he-knew-that/) [Barbara C. Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-c-doyle/) > [“For fifteen years, I protected him from his enemies, but I could not protect him from his friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/for-fifteen-years-i-protected-him-from-his-enemies-but-i-could-not/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Lord, protect me from my friends; I can take care of my enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lord-protect-me-from-my-friends-i-can-take-care-of-my-enemies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Know God with prayer and praise this day, Know God who loves you very much this day, Know God will protect you this day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-billmyre/know-god-with-prayer-and-praise-this-day-know-god-who-loves-you-very/) Julie Billmyre > [When you trust in God He will always protect and provide for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-seaport/when-you-trust-in-god-he-will-always-protect-and-provide-for-you/) [Pauline Seaport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-seaport/) ## More by William Blake > [Poetry fettered, fetters the human race. Nations are destroyed or flourish in proportion as their poetry, painting, and music are destroyed or flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/poetry-fettered-fetters-the-human-race-nations-are-destroyed-or/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Where any view of money exists, art cannot be carried on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/where-any-view-of-money-exists-art-cannot-be-carried-on/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [God only acts and is, in existing beings or men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/god-only-acts-and-is-in-existing-beings-or-men/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Kill not the moth nor butterfly, For the Last Judgement draweth nigh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/kill-not-the-moth-nor-butterfly-for-the-last-judgement-draweth-nigh/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [The world of imagination is the world of eternity. It is the divine bosom into which we shall all go after death of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-world-of-imagination-is-the-world-of-eternity-it-is-the-divine/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Imagination is the real and eternal world of which this vegetable universe is but a faint shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/imagination-is-the-real-and-eternal-world-of-which-this-vegetable/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Painters are noted for being dissipated and wild.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/painters-are-noted-for-being-dissipated-and-wild/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Time is the mercy of Eternity; without Time's swiftness Which is the swiftest of all things, all were eternal torment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/time-is-the-mercy-of-eternity-without-time-s-swiftness-which-is-the/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [The difference between a bad artist and a good one is: the bad artist seems to copy a great deal; the good one really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-difference-between-a-bad-artist-and-a-good-one-is-the-bad-artist/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Cruelty has a human heart, and jealousy a human face. Terror, the human form divine, And secrecy, the human dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/cruelty-has-a-human-heart-and-jealousy-a-human-face-terror-the-human/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [A dead body revenges not injuries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/a-dead-body-revenges-not-injuries/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Those who restrain desire, do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained; and the restrainer or reason usurps its place & governs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/those-who-restrain-desire-do-so-because-theirs-is-weak-enough-to-be/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [To generalize is to be an idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/to-generalize-is-to-be-an-idiot/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [THE POISON TREE I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-poison-tree-i-was-angry-with-my-friend-i-told-my-wrath-my-wrath/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [The bird a nest the spider a web the human friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-bird-a-nest-the-spider-a-web-the-human-friendship/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) [Explore all 592 William Blake quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) ## 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": "O God, protect me from my friends, that they have not power over me. 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