The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend.

The saying contrasts the fragility of relying on force or numbers with the stabilizing power of genuine friendship. It suggests that a single loyal ally can neutralize the harm posed by many adversaries—through support, counsel, protection, reputation, or practical assistance—because friendship creates trust and coordinated action that enemies cannot easily overcome. Read in a broadly Aristotelian key, it aligns with the idea that human flourishing depends on social bonds and that friendship is a civic as well as personal good: it can reduce conflict, strengthen one’s standing, and provide resilience against hostility. The aphorism also implies a moral lesson about investing in relationships rather than accumulating rivals.