History Main / KeepingTheEnemyClose

** Villetta and Rolo are assigned to the OSI detail to watch over Lelouch in order to keep him from using his Geass or becoming Zero. Lelouch manages to flip the script on them both via blackmail of the former's relationship with Ohgi, and convincing the latter that he has no future with Britannia, respectively. (Unfortunately, he fails to keep an absolute leash on either.)

** Doubly used by both L and Light. L enrolls into Light's university to directly interact with him and puts Light in a box by officially introducing himself as L, ensuring that any attempts on his life can be traced back to Light. Light, realizing what cheap tactics L is trying to pull, decides to "befriend" L so that he can both get information on the investigation and also look for his opportunity to get rid of L once and for all.

* 'Manga/DeathNote''

* In ''Manga/DeathNote'', L's primary tactic at one point is to actually [[NoSenseOfPersonalSpace keep Light handcuffed]] to him so he can't act as Kira. This backfires on him because it allows Light to come into contact with the Death Note again.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'', Heather uses her understanding of what reality show producers like best to get to the final three of ''Island'', and so despite hating Leshawna, acts nice to her for this reason. In ''Action'', it's Leshawna using this justification for wanting Heather on her team.

* Various incarnations of ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' have used this as an excuse for why [[JokerImmunity Batman doesn't kill the Joker]] despite all the horrible things the Joker has done. With how DeathIsCheap in comic books, if the Joker is alive, at least ''then'' Batman can keep an eye on him and making sure he's not making any DealWithTheDevil on his watch.

* ''Fanfic/ApotheosisMHA'': [[Deconstructed DeconstructionFic]]. As Izuku notes, those with powerful and/or destructive Quirks but poor personalities and character like Endeavor and Katsuki Bakugou are allowed -- even ''encouraged'' -- to become heroes because those up top are scared they'll become dangerous villains instead if denied the chance. However, all that is doing is giving them what they want instead of actually correcting the problem. For what it's worth, it ''is'' a legitimate concern; [[spoiler:Izuku only managed to avoid the issue with Endeavor by taking his Quirk. Bakugou, meanwhile, was put on probation with the threat of expulsion to force him to shape up, taking advantage of his unending desire to be a hero and his repressed conscious]].

* {{Implied}} in the ''Film/TronLegacy'' bonus feature "The Next Day." [[ChessmasterSidekick Alan Bradley]] is going over his plans for Encom now that Sam Flynn is (nominally) in charge. Roy expresses concern over Ed Dillinger Jr., the son of their enemy from the first film. Alan shrugs, saying that Junior's "earned his place," but seeing as Junior really ''is'' up to no good [[spoiler:scheming with a resurrected Master Control]], this trope would make sense.

** Lelouch keeps Rolo around during the Geass raid and the second Tokyo battle before [[spoiler:he intends to dispose him as payback for murdering Shirley and/or attempting to replace Nunnally ([[SparedByTheAdaptation the former doesn't happen in the movie versions]], but the latter still remains one reason)]]. Unfortunately for the former, [[PoisonousFriend Rolo makes various other Black Knights suspicious]] [[PsychoSupporter by telling them he trusts him the most]]. Should've reined him in a bit more.

** In the third-season finale [[Recap/BabylonFiveS03E22ZHaDum Z'ha'dum]], Londo is appointed an advisor to the emperor on planetary security. It is nominally a promotion, but he identifies it as "a leash", since it will require him to return to Centauri Prime where it will be easier to keep an eye on him.

** In the third-season finale [[Recap/BabylonFiveS03E22ZHaDum Z'ha'dum], Londo is appointed an advisor to the emperor on planetary security. It is nominally a promotion, but he identifies it as "a leash", since it will require him to return to Centauri Prime where it will be easier to keep an eye on him.

* In ''Series/{{Babylon 5}}'', G'Kar alludes to this trope [[InTheOriginalKlingon and then says that humans probably stole it from the Narn]].

[[folder: Western Animation]]

[[folder: Anime and Manga]]

[[folder: ComicBook]]

* ''Fanfic/ApotheosisMHA'': Deconstructed. As Izuku notes, those with powerful and/or destructive Quirks but poor personalities and character like Endeavor and Katsuki Bakugou are allowed -- even ''encouraged'' -- to become heroes because those up top are scared they'll become dangerous villains instead if denied the chance. However, all that is doing is giving them what they want instead actually correcting the problem. For what it's worth, it ''is'' a legitimate concern; [[spoiler:Izuku only managed to avoid the issue with Endeavor by taking his Quirk. Bakugou, meanwhile, was put on probation with the threat of expulsion to force him to shape up, taking advantage of his unending desire to be a hero and his repressed conscious]].
* ''Webcomic/BakeryEnemies'': As much as it scares Marinette that Hawkmoth's son is working at her parents' bakery since she fears he wants [[AvengingTheVillain revenge]], she talks him out of leaving hoping it'll increase her chances of recovering the Peacock Miraculous, not knowing Adrien doesn't have it and [[SubvertedTrope isn't an enemy at all]].

[[folder: Film]]

* In ''Film/BladeII'', Blade knew that Scud was a traitor the whole time, but kept him around for this reason.
* {{Implied}} in the Film/TronLegacy bonus feature "The Next Day." [[ChessmasterSidekick Alan Bradley]] is going over his plans for Encom now that Sam Flynn is (nominally) in charge. Roy expresses concern over Ed Dillinger Jr., the son of their enemy from the first film. Alan shrugs, saying that Junior's "earned his place," but seeing as Junior really ''is'' up to no good [[spoiler: scheming with a resurrected Master Control]], this trope would make sense.

[[folder: Literature]]

* [[Creator/RobertAHeinlein Robert Heinlein's]] ''Literature/TheMoonIsAHarshMistress''. When the conspiracy learns the names of all of the Lunar Authority's spies, Wyoming Knott wants them to be killed but Professor Bernardo de la Paz has other plans.
-->'''Professor de la Paz''': The thing to do with a spy is to let him breathe, encyst him with loyal comrades, and [[FeedTheMole feed him harmless information to please his employers]]. These creatures will be taken into our organization. Don't be shocked; they will be in very special cells. "Cages" is a better word. But it would be the greatest waste to eliminate them - not only would each spy be replaced with someone new but also killing these traitors would tell the Warden that we have penetrated his secrets.

* The goblins in ''Literature/GoblinQuest'' take a different view: "Keep your enemies close and your friends closer. That way your friends are between you and your enemies". This demonstrates a culture where most members of the tribe would cheerfully double-cross any other member in the name of personal survival.
* ''Literature/{{Thrawn}}'' introduces a caveat to the classic "friends close, enemies closer" phrase: To Thrawn, ''allies'' should be kept close (and enemies closer), but true friends don't need to be "kept" anywhere and deserve trust and freedom.

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

* As quoted by Jack Donaghy on ''Series/ThirtyRock''.
-->'''Jack''': The Italians have a saying, Lemon: "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." And although they've never won a war or mass-produced a decent car, in this area they are correct.

* A slightly modified version spoken by [[HeroOfAnotherStory Gaheris Rhade]] in an AlternateUniverse episode of ''Series/{{Andromeda}}'' regarding Tyr: "Keep your friends close. Keep your enemies under constant surveillance." It helps that there's nowhere on ''Andromeda'' that Tyr can go where the SpaceshipGirl won't see him.
* Falcone in ''Series/{{Gotham}}'' knows Mooney wants to usurp his place as the crimelord of Gotham but continues to keep her as his go-to gal and even had a civil conversation with her [[spoiler: as his men beat Mooney's lover behind them]].
* ''Series/GameOfThrones''. Discussed in "The High Sparrow". King Stannis suggests to Jon Snow that he might want to [[ReassignedToAntarctica transfer Alliser Thorne]]. Jon says that he heard it was best to keep your enemies close, but Stannis retorts that whoever said that didn't have many enemies. Instead Jon promotes Thorne but transfers Janos Slynt, Thorne's closest supporter. [[spoiler:Slynt refuses to be transferred and is executed by Jon Snow, firmly establishing his authority when Thorne refuses to oppose the execution. In the long run however this backfires, when Thorne leads the assassination attempt on Jon Snow.]]
* Subverted in ''Series/TheXFiles''. Fox Mulder is contacted by a MysteriousInformant he calls Deep Throat with apparent inside knowledge of the GovernmentConspiracy. Then he's revealed to be working for the GovernmentConspiracy, and cites this trope as to the reason why he has befriended Mulder. But his actions show he's on Mulder's side after all.

* ''Series/BreakingBad'': Drug trafficker Gus Fring builds a close relationship with the local DEA office, giving him insight into their operations and boosting his status as a VillainWithGoodPublicity.

[[folder: Pinball]]

[[folder: Role Playing Games]]

[[folder: Toys]]

[[folder: Web Comics]]

* This is Roy's reason for keeping [[TokenEvilTeammate Belkar]] as a member of ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''. Roy doesn't trust any prison enough to keep Belkar from breaking out and going on a rampage, whereas so long as Belkar is working for the Order, the other members can keep him in check and direct his [[ComedicSociopathy sociopathic tendencies]] towards [[EvilVersusEvil evils that are more dangerous than him]].
* ''Webcomic/{{Bastard|2014}}'': This is the principal reason Dongsoo keeps Jin around him, watching him closely all the while. He forces his son to assist him in his murders to discourage him from contacting the police (thereby incriminating himself as an accomplice) and prohibits him from exercising so he can never become strong enough to overpower him. [[spoiler: This is revealed to be just paranoia on Jin's part.]]

[[folder: Web Original]]

* In ''WebVideo/{{Kickassia}}'', this may be the reason why the Channel Awesome team decided to keep "Fritz Von Baugh" around even though they all knew that he was obviously Kevin Baugh in a PaperThinDisguise. [[spoiler:This ultimately backfires, as it allows Fritz Von Baugh to undermine Kickassia's government.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'', this is generally understood as one of the major reasons why [[TheStarscream Starscream]] is second-in-command to Megatron despite (or rather, due to) his ChronicBackstabbingDisorder.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'', Heather uses her understanding of what reality show producers like best to get to the final three of ''Island'', and so despite hating Leshawna, acts nice to her for this reason. In ''Action'', it's Leshawna using this justification for wanting Heather on her team.

* ''Webcomic/{{Bastard}}'': This is the principal reason Dongsoo keeps Jin around him, watching him closely all the while. He forces his son to assist him in his murders to discourage him from contacting the police (thereby incriminating himself as an accomplice) and prohibits him from exercising so he can never become strong enough to overpower him. [[spoiler: This is revealed to be just paranoia on Jin's part.]]

->"''My father taught me many things here -- he taught me in this room. He taught me -- keep your friends close [[TropeNamer but your enemies closer]].''"

* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'': After Matsuri captures Shirogane, Suzu talks him out of exorcising the cat spirit [[CantKillYouStillNeedYou because he's the only one]] who can restore Matsuri's [[GenderBender original sex]]. To keep Shirogane from causing more trouble, Matsuri takes Shirogane in as a "pet", [[AdoptedToTheHouse even living under the same roof]], while Suzu attempts to get him to reform.

* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'': After Matsuri captures Shirogane, Suzu talks him out of exorcising the cat spirit [[CantKillYouStillNeedYou because he's the only one]] who can restore Matsuri's [[GenderBender original sex]]. To keep Shirogane from causing more trouble, Matsuri takes Shirogane in as a "pet", even living under the same roof, while Suzu attempts to get him to reform.

Alice knows that if she ever turned her back on Bob, he might [[TheStarscream stab her in the back]]. Surely, Bob is too dangerous to keep around... but, on the other hand, so long as Alice keeps an eye on Bob, she'll always know what he's doing. So, what better way for Alice to keep an eye on Bob than to keep Bob around Alice?

Often times, Alice keeps Bob close by appointing him to a position of power, such as her personal adviser. Alternatively, Alice might associate herself with Bob's friends, or on rare occasions, [[FriendlyEnemy might even try to form a relationship with Bob himself]]. Anything that can work to keep Bob under check at all times.

This trope does not necessarily apply only to villains or traitors, but also to any character who could become a dangerous loose cannon if left unmonitored, such as a BloodKnight. It is safer to keep these characters around you, so you always are aware of their actions and motivations, than to risk letting them slip under the radar. In the case of the aforementioned Blood Knight, it is safer to keep the Blood Knight in your army than it is to discharge him and not know where he is or whom his next target might be.

This trope is risky to pull off, since it can backfire and Bob will have a much easier time stabbing Alice in the back than he would have if she stayed far away from him.