--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The gift our enemy may be able to bring…" description: "\"The gift our enemy may be able to bring us: to see aspects of ourselves that we cannot discover any other way than through our enemies. Our friends sel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2e/walter-wink-20602_able_the-gift-our-enemy-may-be-able-to-bring_1960654.jpg" --- # The gift our enemy may be able to bring us: to see aspects… ![“The gift our enemy may be able to bring us: to see aspects of ourselves that we cannot discover any other way than through our enemies. Our friends seldom tell us these things; they are our friends precisely because they are able to overlook or ignore this part of us. The enemy is thus not merely…” quote by Walter Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2e/walter-wink-20602_able_the-gift-our-enemy-may-be-able-to-bring_1960654.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2e/walter-wink-20602_able_the-gift-our-enemy-may-be-able-to-bring_1960654.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2e/walter-wink-20602_able_the-gift-our-enemy-may-be-able-to-bring_1960654.jpg) > “The gift our enemy may be able to bring us: to see aspects of ourselves that we cannot discover any other way than through our enemies. Our friends seldom tell us these things; they are our friends precisely because they are able to overlook or ignore this part of us. The enemy is thus not merely a hurdle to be leaped on the way to God. The enemy can be the way to God. We cannot come to terms with our shadow except through our enemies.” [Walter Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wink/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our enemies reveal hidden parts of ourselves that friends cannot see, making them essential for personal growth and spiritual insight. **In simple terms:** Enemies show us what we cannot see about ourselves. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges as opportunities for self‑discovery. Themes self‑awareness spirituality conflict growth Mood introspective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal therapy - spiritual practice - leadership development - conflict resolution Key Concepts shadow work integration transcendence Questions to Reflect On - What hidden traits do you notice when facing opposition? - How can you use conflict to deepen self‑knowledge? A Different Perspective Enemies may also reinforce negative patterns if not reflected upon. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Hurdle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurdle/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) ## Related quotes > [It is curious how often one prefers his enemies to his friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/it-is-curious-how-often-one-prefers-his-enemies-to-his-friends/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“Friends may be enemies, and enemies, friends. Lacking the ability to see into another’s mind and read the motivations that lie within, no man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-myandee/friends-may-be-enemies-and-enemies-friends-lacking-the-ability-to-see/) [Shaun Myandee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-myandee/) > [The difference between your enemies and your friends your enemies envy you because ur completing your friends envy u because ur succeeding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-b/the-difference-between-your-enemies-and-your-friends-your-enemies/) [Terri B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-b/) > [“Enemies can also be friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-zhang/enemies-can-also-be-friends/) Wendy Zhang > [Them against me, me against them, me against enemies, me against friends somehow they both seem to become one, a sea full of sharks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/them-against-me-me-against-them-me-against-enemies-me-against-friends/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [“My enemies are everywhere, and my friends are fools.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/my-enemies-are-everywhere-and-my-friends-are-fools/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Make a plan now to keep a daily appointment with God. The enemy is going to tell you to set it aside, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/make-a-plan-now-to-keep-a-daily-appointment-with-god-the-enemy-is/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [How so? Briefly, apart from the gospel and outside of Christ, the law is my enemy and condemns me. Why? Because God is my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-so-briefly-apart-from-the-gospel-and-outside-of-christ-the-law-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you are on the right side of GOD no enemy can withstand you and when the wind of God blows it will blow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stankyrich/if-you-are-on-the-right-side-of-god-no-enemy-can-withstand-you-and/) Stankyrich > [“People can be, or can pose as, the enemies of God, but God will never be the enemy of any person. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/people-can-be-or-can-pose-as-the-enemies-of-god-but-god-will-never-be/) [Raniero Cantalamessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/) > [Do not be despondent when fighting against the incorporeal enemy, but even in the midst of your afflictions and oppression praise the Lord, Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/do-not-be-despondent-when-fighting-against-the-incorporeal-enemy-but/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [The Bible has come under fire for making woman the fall guy in man's cosmic drama. But in casting a male conspirator, the serpent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/the-bible-has-come-under-fire-for-making-woman-the-fall-guy-in-man-s/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [It took me a long time to understand that God is not the enemy of my enemies. God is not even the enemy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-niemoller/it-took-me-a-long-time-to-understand-that-god-is-not-the-enemy-of-my/) [Martin Niemoller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-niemoller/) > [“God is the best friend in the world. God can not ever be your enemy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romo-romio/god-is-the-best-friend-in-the-world-god-can-not-ever-be-your-enemy/) Romo Romio > [There was a time when I was in my sins and I was God's enemy, but now I have been purchased in Christ, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-lee/there-was-a-time-when-i-was-in-my-sins-and-i-was-god-s-enemy-but-now/) [Trip Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-lee/) ## More by Walter Wink > [In 1989, thirteen nations comprising 1,695,000 people experienced nonviolent revolutions that succeeded beyond anyone's wildest expectations . . . If we add all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wink/in-1989-thirteen-nations-comprising-1-695-000-people-experienced/) [Walter Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wink/) > [Mysticism has often been misunderstood as the attempt to escape this simple, phenomenal world to a more pure existence in heaven beyond. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wink/mysticism-has-often-been-misunderstood-as-the-attempt-to-escape-this/) [Walter Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wink/) > [“The practical consequence of both of the teachings noted is to encourage homosexual promiscuity. Church members can engage in many short-term liaisons without raising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wink/the-practical-consequence-of-both-of-the-teachings-noted-is-to/) [Walter Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wink/) > [Evil can be opposed without being mirrored. Oppressors can be resisted without being emulated. Enemies can be neutralized without being destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wink/evil-can-be-opposed-without-being-mirrored-oppressors-can-be-resisted/) [Walter Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wink/) > [“Violent revolution fails because it is not revolutionary enough. It changes the rulers but not the rules, the ends but not the means. Most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wink/violent-revolution-fails-because-it-is-not-revolutionary-enough-it/) [Walter Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wink/) > [“The gospel, then, is not a message about the salvation of individuals from the world, but news about a world transfigured, right down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wink/the-gospel-then-is-not-a-message-about-the-salvation-of-individuals/) [Walter Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wink/) > [“Violent revolution fails because it is not revolutionary enough. It changes the rulers but not the rules, the ends but not the means.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wink/violent-revolution-fails-because-it-is-not-revolutionary-enough-it-2/) [Walter Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wink/) > [The 'peace' the gospel brings is never the absence of conflict, but an ineffable divine reassurance within the heart of conflict; a peace that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wink/the-peace-the-gospel-brings-is-never-the-absence-of-conflict-but-an/) [Walter Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wink/) > [Prayer infuses the air of a time yet to be into the suffocating atmosphere of the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wink/prayer-infuses-the-air-of-a-time-yet-to-be-into-the-suffocating/) [Walter Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wink/) > [“Personal redemption cannot take place apart from the redemption of our social structures.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wink/personal-redemption-cannot-take-place-apart-from-the-redemption-of/) [Walter Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wink/) > [The tragedy is not that nonviolence did not work against the Nazis, but that it was so seldom utilized... The churches as a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wink/the-tragedy-is-not-that-nonviolence-did-not-work-against-the-nazis/) [Walter Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wink/) > [“There is nothing, from DNA to the United Nations, that does not have God at its core. Everything has a spiritual aspect. Everything is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wink/there-is-nothing-from-dna-to-the-united-nations-that-does-not-have/) [Walter Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wink/) > [...Jesus did not advocate non-violence merely as a technique for outwitting the enemy, but as a just means of opposing the enemy in such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wink/jesus-did-not-advocate-non-violence-merely-as-a-technique-for/) [Walter Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wink/) > [The greatest obstacle is simply this: the belief that we cannot change because we are dependent on what is wrong. That is the addict's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wink/the-greatest-obstacle-is-simply-this-the-belief-that-we-cannot-change/) [Walter Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wink/) > [“The ultimate weakness of violence,” observed Martin Luther King, Jr., “is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wink/the-ultimate-weakness-of-violence-observed-martin-luther-king-jr-is/) [Walter Wink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wink/) [Explore all 30 Walter Wink quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wink/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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