# Origin of an Enemies Quote. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 15, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-an-enemies-quote/546735 "2010-07-15T01:21:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-an-enemies-quote/546735/1 "2010-07-15T01:21:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Drink not with thine enemies. I’ve heard the quote in many places. Actually, the only place I can remember hearing it for sure was on Star Trek: TNG, _Hide and Q_ from 1987. (The omnipotent Q entity gives Worf a drink, and he pours it on the ground in disgust. Q then mentions this quote.) I did do a Google search a couple of days ago. But nothing came up, at least on the first page (with Google searches, if I find nothing on the first page, I just give up;)–sorry:)). So where did the quote originate? When and from whom? Thank you in advance to all who reply:) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-an-enemies-quote/546735/2 "2010-07-15T01:25:11Z")
Is it possible it comes from the episode? ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-an-enemies-quote/546735/3 "2010-07-15T01:26:50Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Is it possible it comes from the episode? No, once again I did hear in other places (sorry, I can’t think of one just now). And Q was clearly quoting **someone** –but **who** 😕 ---
**Author:** ![GHO57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@GHO57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GHO57)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-an-enemies-quote/546735/4 "2010-07-15T01:41:34Z")
Perhaps it’s a paraphrase of:“Do to no man that which thou hatest. Drink not wine to make thee drunken; neither let drunkenness go with thee in thy journey.” -tobit 4:15 (one of the Apocrypha Books) ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-an-enemies-quote/546735/5 "2010-07-15T01:46:26Z")
Sounds “classical” for loose definitions of the term. Maybe something from Shakespeare? Also sorta riffs on the scene from **Patton** , where he won’t drink with that Russian general, or any other Russian Sonofabitch. Then he drinks with the guy anyway, as one sonofabitch to another. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-an-enemies-quote/546735/6 "2010-07-15T09:46:41Z")
[This site](http://www.foodforthoughtonline.net/Drink_Not_With_Thine_Enemy.html) says it’s “an old Klingon maxim.” I’ve never heard it before. I have, though, heard the opposite: “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-an-enemies-quote/546735/7 "2010-07-16T06:25:28Z")
Actually, I don’t know what the rules are on answering your own OP (Mods?). But I have an idea, call it a wild theory. Did it come from this: Shylock: > [@](#): > > I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, > drink with you, nor pray with you. The Merchant of Venice (I, iii, 35-39) You notice why I have my doubts. It obviously isn’t the exact same quote. Nor is it the way the quote is remembered. Fellow board members, what do you think? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-an-enemies-quote/546735/8 "2010-07-16T10:39:22Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > Actually, I don’t know what the rules are on answering your own OP (Mods?). But I have an idea, call it a wild theory. Did it come from this… > > Fellow board members, what do you think? No rules about answering your own OP (I’m not a mod but I’ve read the [rules](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=466202)). Sharing a meal and sharing a glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage have been for thousands of years rituals that signify family, friendship, partnership, trust, bonding. It is distasteful to dine or drink with someone who has not shown good faith. It is from this human social trait that these quotes spring. It wouldn’t surprise me to find lots and lots of quotes on the subject but that doesn’t mean that any one quote spawned another.