If you want to make enemies, try to change something.

The quote is a blunt observation about the social costs of reform. “Enemies” here does not necessarily mean personal hatred so much as organized opposition: people who feel threatened by change may mobilize against the reformer, question motives, or obstruct implementation. The line implies that conflict is not an accidental byproduct but a predictable consequence of altering established arrangements. As a piece of political wisdom, it warns leaders to anticipate backlash, build coalitions, and communicate clearly—because changing “something” (even something small) redistributes power, status, or comfort. It also carries a moral undertone: avoiding enemies by avoiding change can mean accepting stagnation.