Go Get Yourself Some Enemies Now!
Plutarch once stated thus "faults which are evident to the senses...or otherwise notorious to the world we know by our enemies sooner than by our friends and family members." In a reference to this assertion, he relates the story of good King Hiero who in the course of speaking with a foe gets told that he had stinking breathe. Distressed and angered, he, returning home, demands of his wife thus, "How does it happen that you never told me of this problem?" To this, the simple and chaste Dame innocently replies "Sir, I had thought all men's breathe had smelled so." As few as the lessons from that story might be, spectacular among them is the idea of discovering our otherwise 'unrealized' faults using our association with the 'enemy'.
Humans live in a complex world, filled with diverse persons with complex idiosyncrasies this resulting in a near often clash of interests and personalities - hence the need for laws to regulate human conducts and relations.
This complexity regardless, we are informed by certain sociological theories that humans are born with a complete void and simple brain. This brain gets filled from early natal stages using social learning and cognitive development. The latter recognizes the effect of early natal influences on children who in turn grow into adults. Simply put, our daily experiences and relationship in the course of socializing with family, friends, mates, peers and, actually, foes rub off on us thereby moulding our personalities and idiosyncrasies. While the influence of friends and family members and other dwellers of our environs is widely recognised as shaping our personalities, very few understand the impact of our foes or opposites on our personalities; thus few indeed take advantage of this influence.
As humans, we are naturally inclined to love those who love us and to wish good those who wish us good. It is also natural that we abstain and abhor those who wish us ill as a relationship with them exposes us to more ill. However, having understood the inevitability of having foes, it is rather more economical that we take as much beneficial advantage as possible from their inevitable presence. These advantages comes in ways that are indirectly obvious. The foe in any setting is a mirror(symbolically). He represents an instrument of checks and balances thereby granting you the opportunity to weigh the righteousness of your actions on the basis of his reaction. This justifies Plutarch's earlier mentioned assertions. Friend blinded by the bond you share may not see your shortcomings in reasonable time but that foe of yours is always on the watch, critically examining all your every actions and inactions. If only you can scale beyond the seemingly unnecessary criticisms and scrutiny, you will find a mirror against which all your errors,known and unknown, may identified and resolved. A classical illustration is found in the parliamentary setting. Herein, the main opposition party serves as the instrument of check and balance for the ruling party. With the availability of 'shadow cabinet' and other nonofficial political portfolios, the ruling party is forced to consider every single actions it takes. This consideration is simply made by weighing that specific action against the reactions of the main opposition. Likewise, we also may benefit from the enemy if we are able to, by him, understand inner faults which might have otherwise remained obscured to friends and well wishers and ourselves.
Another benefit is that highlighted by Robert Greene in terms of a situation involving settlements of issue and in cases of possible team work. Here, Greene argues that the foe, having a consciousness of the previous unfriendly relationship between you two "would expect nothing from (you) and would in fact work to prove that he is worthy of (your) choice." The reason for this is not farfetched as they is no contamination of personal emotions or feelings. Thus, decisions and risks are considered carefully by a conscious head and not by an emotions laden heart. It is also emphasized that your knowledge of the personality of your foe would help you stay alert and clear of any risk or danger that may not be recognised when working with a 'friend'.
Having considered the possible 'usefulness' of a foe, it is advised that instead of trying all times to avoid, escape or fighting him, a more profitable approach would be knowing how to put them to use at your own profit. Better still, accepting a compromise,resolving your discord and then putting him at your service would mean weakening the opposition and strengthening your ally base -killing two birds with one stone- for as was noted by Baltasar Gracian, the wise man profits more from his enemies than a fool from his friends.