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Anime and Manga
I could hardly be unfriendly to him. After all, he may very well be the last person I ever see.
— Rider, Fate/Zero.
We will always be... the best of foes!
— Keroro and Kogoro, Sgt. Frog
Audio Plays
"I have an urgent appointment with an old friend. Well, I say a 'friend', I mean a vengeance-fixated sociopath with megalomaniacal tendencies."
— The Doctor on the Master, Big Finish Doctor Who, "Trail of the White Worm"
Comic Books
Could it be that I commit my crimes for reasons OTHER than monetary gain? Could it be that I derive pleasure from passing my time in challenges of wit and skill? Could it be that the crime of murder is too mundane, too artless, to satisfy my needs? Could it be that I actually RESPECT The Batman and LOOK FORWARD to our periodic tests? Of COURSE it could. And were I to KILL The Batman - red-letter day aside ... the rest of my days could well be blank boxes. With The Batman dead, would I have any reason to live? And yet ... the money ...
— Calendar Man, Batman
He's going to be okay. He's my nemesis. He has to be okay.
Hal Jordan: Were we ever truly friends?
Sinestro: That's the tragedy of all this, Jordan. Hal. We'll always be friends.
Sinestro: That's the tragedy of all this, Jordan. Hal. We'll always be friends.
Adam Warlock: Travel well and safely, my friend.
Thanos: Friend? Yes, I guess that is what we are. A friend. Maybe my only friend.
Thanos: Friend? Yes, I guess that is what we are. A friend. Maybe my only friend.
— Thanos issue #6 (2004)
Fan Works
There was that thing about the Flash: deep down, despite all the aggravation the guy caused them, busting up their surefire crime-plans and sending them back to the joint...
...they all kind of liked him.
It wasn't really talked about in that way, of course. They still all tried to kill him. After all, he was the freakin' competition. But it was like the affection that builds between cops and petty crooks. Once you get to know the guy that well, if he's a decent sort, it's hard to hate him so much.
And the Flash was a decent sort.
He seemed to feel the same way about them, too. More than once, he said, "I'm glad I have guys like you to tangle with, and not the Gotham mobs or some megalomaniac like Luthor."
...they all kind of liked him.
It wasn't really talked about in that way, of course. They still all tried to kill him. After all, he was the freakin' competition. But it was like the affection that builds between cops and petty crooks. Once you get to know the guy that well, if he's a decent sort, it's hard to hate him so much.
And the Flash was a decent sort.
He seemed to feel the same way about them, too. More than once, he said, "I'm glad I have guys like you to tangle with, and not the Gotham mobs or some megalomaniac like Luthor."
Underneath the note sat a necklace with a silver pendant in the shape of the Eiffel Tower. Ivy chuckled as she realized its significance: it was the site of one of Carmen's great escapes — one that took place during the only time she had worked with Zack and Ivy. A symbol of communion, then... and of Carmen's taunting. She could work with them and appreciate them, the gift seemed to say, but they would never capture her.
— Silver
, a Carmen Sandiego fanfic
, a Carmen Sandiego fanfic Film - Live-Action
"You know, Rick, I have many a friend in Casablanca, but somehow, just because you despise me, you are the only one I trust."
—Ugarte, Casablanca
"Frenemies are enemies who act like friends. We call them 'frenemies'."
—Gretchen Wieners, Mean Girls
"You seem a decent fellow... I hate to kill you."
—Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride
Buzz: You know something? I like you. You know that?
Jim: Then... Why do we do this?
Buzz: Well... You gotta do something, don't you?
Jim: Then... Why do we do this?
Buzz: Well... You gotta do something, don't you?
"Here I am spilling my guts to one of my arch enemies! The truth is, you're the closest thing to a friend I got. What the fuck does that say?"
—The Comedian after breaking into a retired Moloch's home, Watchmen
Literature
"My honored enemy! Would that my friends and allies were half as dependable as you. So, will you take my hand?"
— Yambu, Book of Swords
"Your old and mortal friend Captain Rat."
— Rat ending his letter to Alice, The Dinosaurs' Kids
[Aziraphale was] The Enemy, of course. But an enemy for six thousand years now, which made him a sort of friend.
— Crowley, Good Omens
Amelia was Svena's favorite enemy—which was how old, proud dragons said "friend."
"A friend can betray you, but with an old enemy, you always know where you stand."
— Gorath, Krondor: The Betrayal
"Do you suppose I would ever reproach you, of all my foes? I am sorry only to have faced you across the field, when you ought to have been by my side."
"There's no-one closer, more like family, than old enemies."
— John Taylor, Something From The Nightside
Live-Action TV
Spend a career in covert ops and you're going to know some bad people. You'll work with them, you'll live with them, you might even trust your life with them. But none of that makes them your friend. It can't. Because one day, you might have to end them.
— Burn Notice, "Double Booked"
A frenemy is someone who is both your friend and your enemy at the same time. China is our enemy because they are a totalitarian regime that despises our values of freedom and democracy. They're our friend because... look at these tube socks! 12 for $1.99!
"A cosmos without the Doctor scarcely bears thinking about."
Kate: Stop making me like you.
Yelena: I'm sorry, I can't help it.
Yelena: I'm sorry, I can't help it.
Zayra: I can't believe you're defending [Odo], Quark. You're his worst enemy.
Quark: I guess that's the closest thing he has in this world to a friend.
Quark: I guess that's the closest thing he has in this world to a friend.
Music
The Baron made Snoopy fly to the Rhine
And forced him to land behind the enemy lines
Snoopy was certain that this was the end
When the Baron cried out, "Merry Christmas, my friend!"
The Baron then offered a holiday toast
And Snoopy, our hero, saluted his host
And then with a roar they were both on their way
Each knowing they'd meet on some other day.
And forced him to land behind the enemy lines
Snoopy was certain that this was the end
When the Baron cried out, "Merry Christmas, my friend!"
The Baron then offered a holiday toast
And Snoopy, our hero, saluted his host
And then with a roar they were both on their way
Each knowing they'd meet on some other day.
—The Royal Guardsmen, Snoopy's Christmas
Radio
But on my show tonight, ladies and gentlemen, as you probably know, my guest star is Fred Allen. And lots of people think, of course, because of this feud that's been going on for so many years, that Fred and I are enemies, that we hate each other. And this isn't true at all, because Fred Allen and I are the the best of friends! (Beat) Well, maybe I'm overdoing it. You know what I mean, just a little bit, I, I wouldn't say that we were the best of friends, you know I would just say that we, uh, I'd say that we're friends. You know, just friends. (beat) Of course, friends might not be the exact word, that I'm trying to say; wh-what I mean is that we're more, uh, more, uh... Well, I dunno maybe we do hate each other. (beat) I know I can't stand him.
— Jack Benny, The Jack Benny Program, 1953-04-19
Theatre
Igor: Thank you, Khan, for your kind words. I hold no grudge against you here and would be happy to return the favor. But still, there’s no true life in captivity, you have been a captive yourself once.
Konchak: Captivity? Captivity? Well, do you want me to let you go home? Just give me your word you'll never raise your sword against me and stand in my way.
Igor: No, it would be low for a prince to lie. I shall tell you clearly: I won't give you any such promises…
Konchak: I like that! You are brave and you aren’t afraid of the truth! It’s the same with me!
—Prince Igor and Khan Konchak, Prince Igor
Video Games
After [my father] died here, our government blamed him for the defeat. It seems only his enemies saw him for the good man he was.
—Captain Brenner to General Forsythe, Advance Wars: Days of Ruin.
Indeed? I too grow tired of peace, let's do this!
— Alexander the Great if you declare war on him, Civilization V
Green Lantern (John Stewart): Enemy or friend?
Bizarro: Me am friendly enemy.
John Stewart: I don't like the sound of that...
Bizarro: Me am friendly enemy.
John Stewart: I don't like the sound of that...
When that station blew, there wasn't a piece left bigger than a turian's right nut. So I went home, to give the volus the good news. But before I got halfway there, I got a message from Aleena. "Better luck next time!" Now I'm not superstitious, but if someone's that tough... they deserve to live.
— Urdnot Wrex, Mass Effect
Naomi: But... d-... didn't you try to kill each other?
Snake: That's true. We did. In Zanzibar. But it was nothing personal. We were just professionals on opposite sides, that's all.
Naomi: And you still call yourselves friends?
Snake: Hard to believe? War is no reason to end a friendship.
Snake: That's true. We did. In Zanzibar. But it was nothing personal. We were just professionals on opposite sides, that's all.
Naomi: And you still call yourselves friends?
Snake: Hard to believe? War is no reason to end a friendship.
— A discussion on Solid Snake and Gray Fox's relationship, Metal Gear Solid
Visual Novels
Shiro: ...Why is that? You're on good terms with everyone, aren't you? Yet you still say everyone's an enemy?
Lancer: It ain't the same thing, dumbass. You like who you like. No need to hate them just because they're an enemy.
Webcomics
Largo: Well, Ed, good to see ya. Guess I gotta beat the crap out of you now.
Ed: That's cool. I really wish I could shoot you in the face.
Ed: That's cool. I really wish I could shoot you in the face.
Web Original
It pleases me to say that in the twilight of their doomed relationship (doomed in the sense that it never quite worked in the way that the writers devised... it never even got close to approaching the Odo/Quark family in adversity vibe) there is something touching to be said about how Tuvok and Neelix feel about each other. They might have annoyed the hell out of each other for seven years but familiarity has bred respect and their "hypothetical" conversation sees Tuvok aiding Neelix in his plans to save the Talaxians. For Tuvok to say that Neelix is much more than just a cook and that he is one of the most resourceful individuals that he has ever known pulls at the heartstrings because its only during these farewell episodes where all the pretense falls away.
— Doc Oho on Star Trek: Voyager, "Homestead"
on Star Trek: Voyager, "Homestead"Grif: Let Me Get This Straight.... We're in the middle of an intergalactic struggle for control of the universe... and you guys are taking a few days off to go on vacation?
Church: We'll be back in a few days, guys. We can start the war back up then.
Grif: Okay, have fun.
Church: And while we're gone, don't drive our tank.
Grif: Fine!
Church: And no parties!
Church: We'll be back in a few days, guys. We can start the war back up then.
Grif: Okay, have fun.
Church: And while we're gone, don't drive our tank.
Grif: Fine!
Church: And no parties!
It's regarding our friend slash enemy slash companion. Or friendinamapanion for short.
— Sarge, Red vs. Blue
[Eric Champman]’s ruined our lives for several years, and we send each other Christmas cards.
—Antigone, Wooden Overcoats
They’re all getting dressed up in their Sunday best and having a funeral for Magneto. What makes this weird isn't just that Magneto will be returning by the end of the episode, although that certainly takes the fun out of a funeral, but that Xavier refers to him as "our most intractable opponent," which is pretty weird when you consider that they actually only fought him once, and every other appearance involved either teaming up or hanging out in the Jungle for about eighteen months.
— Chris Sims on X-Men: The Animated Series, "Sanctuary, Part 2"
X-Men: The Animated Series, "Sanctuary, Part 2"Dude, it's like Sonic had to take a sick-day and couldn't stop Robotnik's latest evil scheme, so he asked Ulala to take care of him so Sonic could rest and get better.
— skurvay on "Space Channel Robotnik"
Alucard: Eh, welp, my boner's gone.
Anderson: Aye, kind of a mood-killer.
Alucard: Wanna try this again some other time?
Anderson: Of course! Kill ya later, you monstrous heathen.
Alucard: You too, you Catholic sociopath.note
Anderson: Aye, kind of a mood-killer.
Alucard: Wanna try this again some other time?
Anderson: Of course! Kill ya later, you monstrous heathen.
Alucard: You too, you Catholic sociopath.note
Western Animation
I no like you, but I like you.
— Japanese Stewie, Family Guy, "Road To The Multiverse"
Leela: Hermes wasn't your friend! He always insulted you and hit you!
Zoidberg: What, you mean all those insults and hits? No, that was just friendly teasing! Point is, he was the only one who cared enough to insult me!
Leela: I insult you, you yam-faced yokel!
Zoidberg: Sure, when it was convenient. But he would insult me just for the sake of it.
Zoidberg: What, you mean all those insults and hits? No, that was just friendly teasing! Point is, he was the only one who cared enough to insult me!
Leela: I insult you, you yam-faced yokel!
Zoidberg: Sure, when it was convenient. But he would insult me just for the sake of it.
— Futurama, "The Six Million Dollar Mon"
The Flash: Dude, as soon as you finish your drink, turn yourself in.
Trickster: (raising his glass cheerfully) Got me again, Flash!
Trickster: (raising his glass cheerfully) Got me again, Flash!
— Justice League, "Flash and Substance"
A true Luchador knows that an enemy is just a friend who... doesn't like you and is mean to you all the time.
— The Flea, ¡Mucha Lucha!
Well, I don't even need you anymore, yeah. I've got an even better best friend. He's a really good listener; he even put up with me going on about how great you were! Ha! It's clear to me now that my real best friend is Perry the Plat— (gets punched by Perry)
— Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Phineas and Ferb
Just because we're archenemies, doesn't mean we can't be friends.
Just because I tape your phone conversations and monitor your emails, doesn't mean we can't be friends.
Bolin, stop making friends with the bad guy!
— Mako, The Legend of Korra
Robotnik: As for you, I will destroy you... hmm... let's see...
(Pulls out his schedule.)
Robotnik: How about next week? Does next week work for you?
Sonic: (Flipping through his own schedule.) Yeah, I'm open.
Robotnik: Great! Destroy you then.
(Pulls out his schedule.)
Robotnik: How about next week? Does next week work for you?
Sonic: (Flipping through his own schedule.) Yeah, I'm open.
Robotnik: Great! Destroy you then.
Real Life
I never met Nixon. But I did hear him say that the auditorium of his library should be used to enact "great debates like - oh, Vidal and Buckley." Also, on his first visit to New York after his defeat by Jack, he said, "I'm here to see The Best Man," my play, in which he darkly figures.
— Gore Vidal, Palimpsest
