"Our enemy is by tradition our savior, in preventing us from superficiality"

This quote by Joyce Carol Oates talks to the concept that our enemies can often be our rescuers. By challenging us and pushing us out of our comfort zone, our opponents can help us to prevent becoming complacent and shallow. They can assist us to think more deeply and to pursue greater understanding. In this way, our enemies can assist us to grow and to progress versions of ourselves. This quote also speaks with the idea that our enemies can assist us to appreciate the things that we have and to be grateful for them. By forcing us to challenge our weak points, our opponents can assist us to become more aware of our strengths and to value them more. Ultimately, this quote recommends that our opponents can be a source of growth and advancement, if we want to accept their difficulty.