To face your enemies, you have to be strong, self-confident, unflinching.
Whatever they do.
You don't have to hate them.
You don't have to fear them.
Self-assured.
You ignore them, until you can't, anymore.
Then, you defy them.
Self-composed.
They drug you, they beat you, they tear you into pieces.
Self-controlled.
You provoke them.
Until you win, and you kill them, probably.
Your own skills, and your own luck.
Self-supporting.
Until you lose, once, and they probably kill you, eventually.
But not today.
Then comes the darkness.
Then comes the night.
To face a friend, you have to look strong, self-confident, unflinching.
Ideally, don't have any friend.
You won't have to care for him.
He won't have to care for you.
You won't have to fear for him.
He won't have to fear for you.
He defies them.
In order to protect you.
They drug him, they beat him, they tear him into pieces.
He provokes them.
In order to protect you.
Until you win, and you kill them. Definitely.
His own skills and your own luck.
Until you win and you lose him, perhaps.
Then comes the night.
Then comes the darkness.
Until you win, and he survives.
He looks at you.
He makes fun of your face.
You thank him and he rolls his eyes.
But his hand squeezes yours.
The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend. ~Aristotle
It is not so much our friends' help that helps us, as the confidence of their help. ~Epicurus