I've got no particular phrase but a lot of wiseguys are known for following Machiavellian philosophy. It's all about power and politics, manipulating others to get what you want and so a Machiavellian would live by:

Only telling people what they want to hear,

Never completely trust someone else,

Only tell people the real reason for doing something if it is useful to do so.

And then there's the obvious principle of his that it is better to be feared than loved. But if you read Machiavelli's The Prince he adds, and I quote, "He must only endeavour to escape being hated". A point many wiseguys forget about.