Sun Tzu created it but gained in the movie "The Godfather 2"

The phrase "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer" is often attributed to Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese military strategist and philosopher. However, it gained significant popularity in Western culture after being used in the movie "The Godfather: Part II." In the film, the character Michael Corleone attributes the saying to his father. The exact origin of the quote is a bit uncertain, but it has become a widely recognized expression about strategic thinking and relationships.