save us from our friends

The idea that friends may be more dangerous than professed enemies because precautions are taken against the latter, whereas a friend is trusted, is an old one; cf. OVID Ars Amatoria I. 751 Non est hostis metuendus amanti. Quos credis fidos effuge: tutus eris, an enemy is not to be feared by the lover. Shun those whom you believe friends; then you will be safe. Both this short form and the expanded form represented by quot. 1604 are found.

1477 A. WYDEVILLE Dicts. of Philosophers 127 Ther was one that praied god to kepe him from the daunger of his frendis.

1585 Q. ELIZABETH in J. E. Neale Elizabeth I & her Parliament (1957) iv. There is an Italian proverb which saith, From my enemy let me defend myself; but from a pretensed friend, good Lord deliver me.

1604 J. MARSTON Malcontent IV. ii. Now, God deliver me from my friends..for from mine enemies I’ll deliver myself.

1884 Railway Engineer V. 265 The old proverb, ‘Save us from our friends’, may be well applied to the diligent gentlemen who..toiled through labyrinths of reports since 1877, to dress up a few exaggerated cases against the..brake.

1979 ‘S. WOODS’ Proceed to Judgement 140 Heaven save us from our friends!

2002 Washington Times 26 Mar. B5 ‘Defend me from my friends; I can defend myself from my enemies.’ So cried a famous French general to Louis XIV long before bridge was invented.