When you’re dealing with friends in good faith, you only make proposals that...

When you’re dealing with friends in good faith, you only make proposals that are reasonable, reciprocal, and fair. But when you’re dealing with enemies, people who want to harm you, you start from the opposite position.

You make proposals that are ridiculously in your favor, and deliberately harmful to your enemies. You begin the negotiation from strength, then let them give something up to move you toward a more reasonable position.

You don’t shift based on words or emotions or reason. You shift based on demonstrated goodwill and flexibility from the other side. Not before. Never before.

And never give them an inch for free.