"Learning carries within itself certain dangers because out of necessity one has to learn from one's enemies"

Leon Trotsky’s observation on the perils of learning addresses the unavoidably dialectical nature of education, especially amid conflict and struggle. Human understanding and progress do not arise solely from amiable teachers or allies; instead, they often require us to observe, adapt to, and even internalize methods from those who oppose or threaten us. True learning involves recognizing the strengths, strategies, and insights present in adversaries, even as we disagree with or resist their aims.

Such engagement is dangerous because it can blur the boundaries between self and other, friend and foe. To study one’s enemy is to open oneself to their influence. The learner risks empathy, imitation, or even inadvertent admiration of the opposition, threatening one’s core principles or identity. This process demands vigilance: one must analyze the enemy’s strengths not for homage but for survival or effective resistance. Historically, revolutions, armies, and movements have grown stronger by adopting the tactics or technologies of those they battle, a process that simultaneously empowers and imperils them.

Learning from enemies confronts us with uncomfortable truths. It reveals our own weaknesses and failures, the limitations of our worldview, and the adaptability of those we would otherwise dismiss. The necessity Trotsky speaks of is rooted in self-preservation and progress; refusing to learn from adversaries condemns one to stagnation or defeat. Yet, this necessity comes at a price—exposure to corrupting or compromising influences, or the temptation to become like what we oppose.

Ultimately, Trotsky argues that the development of knowledge is not a pure or risk-free pursuit. It is sharp-edged, dangerous, and at times morally ambiguous. Effective learning involves selective assimilation, critical analysis, and a constant refinement of self—not just against the other, but because of the other. The process is fraught with peril precisely because it is so essential.