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alt title(s): My Worthy Opponent 
"I regret that we meet in this way. You and I are of a kind. In a different reality, I could have called you friend."
The equal and opposite enemy to the hero, who save for the tragic circumstances of his life, upbringing, politics, or financial situation, might have been the hero's best friend. Unfortunately, though, he must be the hero's opposition. Evenly matched, with a sense of honor that allows the hero to trust him about a select few things, and an honest respect for the hero, the Worthy Opponent also fights to the same standards of fairness as the hero. The Worthy Opponent will also do things like negotiate honestly or allow the wounded hero to escape to fight another day. Sometimes found in the role of The Dragon, but is almost never the Big Bad. If he's a commander, he may be A Father To His Men; indeed, his men may be prove a sticking point with the Big Bad.
The Worthy Opponent is rarely a recurring character, but is usually likely to evolve into a Friendly Enemy. More often he is killed (sometimes by a fanatic on his own side) after one or two episodes, prompting the hero to mourn the loss of such an honorable but misguided soul.
This is usually the only enemy to whom you might say that It Has Been An Honor. And most often those feelings are mutual between them. When he gets beaten and stays alive he will be a Graceful Loser. Despite their honor, they rarely seem to decide to stop enabling their country or their leader to do evil.
See also Antagonist In Mourning and Anti Villain. Noble Demons tend towards this trope. Contrast with the Evil Counterpart, Dark Magical Girl, and Minion With An F In Evil. The Noble Bigot With A Badge is a subtype—when they're not the protagonist, anyways. Very likely to become a Friendly Enemy, though respect does not always equal friendliness. They might decide to settle their differences like gentlemen.
Examples
Anime and Manga
- Yuuri and, later, Mimi and Sheshe from Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch.
- L and Light from Death Note, only emphasizing the fact the show has a Villain Protagonist.
- Ashram from Record Of Lodoss War, at least in the TV version.
- He was in the OVA, too — it's just that, for most of the series, he was Kashue's Worthy Opponent, not Parn's (or rather, Parn had to level up quite a bit to be a worthy opponent for him).
- Yusuke Urameshi and Younger Toguro. Heck, Younger Toguro even has to pretend to kill Kazuma Kuwabara in order to greatly increase Yusuke's Power Level for him to truly become his Worthy Opponent
- Nietzsche Wannabe Schwarzwald of The Big O, although initially antagonistic of hero Roger Smith, became an unspoken ally of Smith later in the second season. Both searched for the truth behind The Event: Schwarzwald preferred fear, aggression, and mass murder to spread his message, while Smith opted to protect the citizens of Paradigm City from Schwarzwald's attack and was nearly killed by Schwarzwald in the process. Smith later speaks fondly of Schwarzwald, who leaves clues for Smith in an attempt to lead him to the ultimate truth behind The Event.
- Viral from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. Ended up doing a Heel Face Turn and became The Lancer.
- Shimi from Outlaw Star makes a great drinking buddy to Gene until he has to kill him. He eventually decides to settle this in a duel where his gun jams and the crew bury him before setting off.. until he digs himself out ("They should have buried me deeper.") and reveals he faked the whole thing since he hated being a space pirate and was looking for a way to quit.
- Seto Kaiba (Yu-Gi-Oh) is pretty much the epitome of this.
- Sendoh Akira and Sawakita Eiji to Rukawa Kaede in Slam Dunk.
- s-CRY-ed is built around this trope, having two main characters who start off on opposite sides of the conflict and are bitter enemies, but actually have a lot in common, unite against a common enemy in the second half of the series, and even become sorta-friends, though they still have an intense rivalry and can't have a conversation without it devolving into insults.
- Rambal Ral from Mobile Suit Gundam, who actually did befriend Amuro before they battled to the death.
- Although they are enemies, Ankoku Daishogun and Tetsuya Tsurugi (both from Great Mazinger) respect each other as warriors and when the first falls, Tetsuya gave him a salutation for being a Worthy Opponent. Obviously, these get carried over in Super Robot Wars.
- Nanoha and Fate quickly become Worthy Opponents of each other in Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, complete with adorable pre-teen Foe Yay and the inevitable Heel Face Turn. In the second season, Fate and Signum pair off similarly, maintaining a friendly rivalry even after the second inevitable Heel Face Turn (never mind that Fate's Just A Kid when they meet and Signum is Really Seven Hundred Years Old, respect is respect). Nanoha and Vita, on the other hand, are more like rivals due to the latter's attitude.
- In Martian Successor Nadesico, Tsukumo Shiratori and Captain Akiyama seem to consider themselves the Worthy Opponents of the "heroic" mecha pilot Akito and the "brilliant" captain Yurika, neither of whom really seem to care. The pilot pair do become friends for a brief while before, yep, Shiratori gets offed by a scheming fanatic on his own side.
- Eyeshield 21 has this kind of relationship between the Devil Bats and many of the members of the other football teams they play, but especially the Oujou White Knights. You get the feeling a couple of times that Sakuraba and Monta, and Kurita and Otawara could've been the best of friends if they were on the same team. On the other hand, Shin and Sena are probably as close as they'll ever get, as fiercely competitive yet friendly rivals with deep respect for one another.
- Mugen and Jin of Samurai Champloo, from the moment they first meet. Literally within seconds of coming into contact, they fight to the (almost) death, then get arrested together and commiserate (half naked, too), all while swearing to murder each other once they escape.
- Father Anderson and Alucard's in Hellsing (at least, the manga and recent OVA). In one sequence from the manga, Alucard watches admiringly as Anderson slices his way through an army of mooks Alucard summoned in order to have a final showdown with Alucard.
- In Dragon Ball Z, before Goku obliterates Kid Buu with the Spirit Bomb, he comments that the fight with him was so good and intense, he wishes he wasn't the
Big Small Bad. He wished that maybe in another life, they'd get to do this again. Interestingly, his wish came true, as Buu was reincarnated into a human boy named Uub, and in the 28th Tenka'ichi Budokai, he loved the fight so much that he abandoned left his family, friends, and the most persistent rival of the series, Vegeta (who truly is a worthy opponent looking at what happened to the rest of Goku's rivals in the series), to help him master his abilities, and fight him again. In Dragon Ball GT, this took ten years.
- Applies best to Vegeta, who's Goku's rival/Lancer. He hates Goku with a passion through most of the series and spends half that time trying to kill the latest Big Bad so he can finally get his fight with Goku. First he learns to respect Goku, then he learns to understand Goku's motivations. Finally, ultimately, he makes his peace, recognizes that Goku is simply the better warrior, and if you don't count Dragonball GT may even have found peace in his life.
- Earlier in the series during the Namek arc, Captain Ginyu treats Goku as a worthy challenge for his skills and refuses to take advantage of Jheese's surprise attack. However, when he realises that Goku is actually more than twice as powerful as he is, this attitude goes out the window and he uses his body change technique instead.
- Vagabond has Miyamoto Musashi has this with dynamic with various other characters even before they fight; in fact, in his first major fight he survives because Yoshioka Denshichirou wants him to become this. (Unfortunately for Denshichirou, Musashi makes far better use of the year between their duels and ends up defeating him easily.) In'ei trains him specifically because he's the one for Inshun (no one else can threaten Inshun's life), but Musashi's two most clear Worthy Opponents seem to be Yagyuu Hyougonosuke and Sasaki Kojirou.
- Although he starts out their match aiming to injury Tezuka (and succeeds), rival captain Atobe from The Prince Of Tennis ends the match considering Tezuka a Worthy Opponent (and becomes it himself, in turn), to the point that once he finally wins the match after a ridiculously long tiebreaker, the first thing Atobe does is raise Tezuka's hand in a sort of shared victory.
- In the Pokemon Special manga, Bruno is the only Elite Four member who isn't evil, he just wants a worthy opponent to fight with. He finds one in Red.
- It's confirmed midway through the Hoenn arc that he mentored Brawly as well. From one badass to another, it seems...
- Negi and Kotaro in Mahou Sensei Negima start out this way with Kotaro as Negi's enemy. Tsukuyomi also appears to feel this way about Setsuna (among feelings beyond mere admiration).
- In Full Metal Panic, apparently Gauron feels something of this sort towards Sousuke. It's one-sided, though - Sousuke really really hates him. The first time they met, even, Gauron wanted to take Sousuke in. However, Sousuke refused. Of course, as an ally or as an enemy, Gauron has a great appreciation for Sousuke's stoic-ness and skill. His affection and obsession, however, might have actually deepened because they became enemies...
- Kenshiro and Raoh. The ending of series one even credits Raoh as helping restore stability to the world.
- Code Geass gives several examples of this relationship. The most obvious example is Suzaku and Kallen in their piloting skills. Lelouche and Schneizel have this in their Magnificent Bastardry.
- In One Piece Vice Admiral Garp was the Worthy Opponent of none other than Gold Roger himself. So much so that Roger, knowing he would soon die, entrusted Garp with the life of his unborn child.
- Luffy and Koby are probably going to end up like this, now that Koby knows Soru and they are on oppossing sides, yet remain best friends.
- Also, Mihawk to Zoro.
- Ghost In The Shell is full with Worthy Opponents. Kuze Hideo from the second season of Stand Alone Complex is a prime example, though it gets more complicated in later episodes.
Comic Books
- The DC Elseworlds story Red Son, in which the infant Superman's rocket ship crash lands in the Soviet Union and Kal-El is brought up to become a Communist leader, the American scientist (and, later, President) Lex Luthor is Superman's Worthy Opponent, impressive for a man with no superpowers. Their rivalry is much more personal than the international politics they are embroiled in, and though they are constantly seeking to destroy one another, Superman at one pivotal moment refers to Lex as "old friend". Lex, the irony lost on him, at one point muses that he and Superman could have been close allies had Superman been raised in America.
- Just about every incarnation portrays their relationship this way. Luthor is the one person Superman can't defeat with strength and Superman is the one person Luthor can't control with his wealth.
- Enemy Ace is often portrayed as a Worthy Opponent. He is obviously inspired by the real-life Red Baron, mentioned below.
- Captain Marvel, no not that one, after Nitro had exposed him to a certain gas he developed cancer. On his deathbed Mar-Vell was visited by many heroes and champions, but by none of his own creed (little pun there). Yet he was visted by a Skrull high commander, the people which had been in war with his species since fuck knows when, and then commemorates him with the highest honour an opponent of the Skrull could have.
- In the X Wing Series comics, readers encounter the Baron Soontir Fel, the Empire's best pilot since Vader died. He's death on a pair of twin ionizing engines, but unlike nearly every other Imperial in the series, he doesn't wallow in evilness. Far from it; he knows what he is in the dark and is moral, devoted to his wife, and just generally isn't hateful. When the Rogues shoot him down, he asks to speak in private to Wedge Antilles - the best New Republic pilot since Skywalker left to go Jedi-ing - and compares himself to Skywalker
 . Defeat Means Friendship, and Fel's wife is Wedge's sister and only surviving relative, and the Empire that Fel was so loyal to is dead...
- Scrooge McDuck and Arpin Lusene have a Rich Victim - Gentleman Thief status of mutual respect in Don Rosa's comics. Lusene is a very good sport about losing, and Scrooge admits the Frenchman is the greatest threat his fortune has (which is a lot coming from him).
Fanfiction
- Hilariousl subverted in the {{Firefly} fanfic Forward, where the Arrogant Kung Fu Guy Si Quan confronts River, sizes her up, and considers her a worthy opponent who can test his abilities. River disagrees, and shoots him in the head.
Film
- Literary and Film example: In The Princess Bride, Inigo Montoya to the Man in Black in their duel. Wishing for a fair duel, Inigo goes as far as helping the Man in Black up the cliff, then waiting for him to be fully ready, and the two of them compliment each other throughout.
- Also applies to Fezzik the giant, who refused to kill the Man in Black (Wesley) in an "unsportsmanlike" manner by throwing a rock at him from a distance, instead challenges him to a wrestling match "as God intended." During the match, Fezzik refrains from instantly curbstomping Wesley, telling him "I just want you to feel you're doing well. I hate for people to die embarrassed."
- “You mean: you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword, and we'll try to kill each other like civilized people?”
- Ultimately, Wesley defeats and spares both Inigo and Fezzik — after which they turn Friendly Enemy, rescuing Wesley and joining him to form a Power Trio.
- The World War II movie The Enemy Below, in which U-boat captain Von Stolberg (Curt Jurgens) was the Worthy Opponent of destroyer escort captain Murrell (Robert Mitchum).
- Star Trek:Nemesis is quite literally about an equal and opposite opponent to Picard, a clone of him who grew up in different circumstances (though they really look nothing alike).
- Bill Cutting from Gangs Of New York considered Priest Vallon, the leader of the Irish immigrant gang, the last man he could truly respect. After the gang battle in the beginning of the movie ends in Vallon's death, Cutting orders that Vallon's body "will cross over whole," while the other dead are mutilated for trophies, and is himself buried beside Vallon at the end.
- The Operative from Serenity, who genuinely respects his opponents for their ingenuity and tenacity: "We should have done this as men - not with fire."
- In Troy, Achilles eventually comes to feel this way about his nemesis Hector, despite having already killed and desecrated him in vengeance for the death of his cousin. Also, Hector's father, King Priam's attitude towards Achilles himself ("We are still enemies tonight. But even enemies can show respect").
- Detective Lt. Vince Hanna of the LAPD and master thief Neil McCauley in Michael Mann's Heat are an excellent example of this trope; see especially the scene where McCauley pulls his car over while Hanna is shadowing him and suggests they go grab a cup of coffee.
- The Zulu Army in Zulu. They are a Proud Warrior Race who follow The Spartan Way. And in the movies Crowning Momentof Awesome the Zulus sing their war chants and the Welsh Redshirt Army sing "Men of Harlech," which is of course a Welsh war song. Thus they show that "all warriors are brothers."
- Said by resident badass Tai Lung in Kung Fu Panda: "So that's his name? Po. Finally! A worthy opponent! Our Battle will be legendary!" And oh what a worthy opponent Po was....
- The Irish agent in The Man Who Never Was.
Literature
- In the Honor Harrington series, Thomas Theisman would qualify, taking into account that Honor fears and respects him at the same time.
- Irene Adler to Sherlock Holmes.
- It is also interesting to note that when Maurice Le Blanc needed a worthy opponent to his own character, Arsene Lupin, especially as Ganimard simply wasn't cutting it, he instead decided to use a ready made one in an expy of Sherlock Holmes.
- The Sharpe books often included this type of character among the French ranks. Often, the character would be a portrayal of a real French officer whom the author respected. In a military context, this character makes more sense.
- Sergey Golovko or the Soviet Union as a whole in Tom Clancy novels.
- In Dan Abnett's Warhammer 40000 Eisenhorn novels, Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn regards the Sealed Evil In A Can Pontius Glaw as a being who is intelligent, erudite, charismatic, and likable, and regretfully remarks that if Glaw hadn't chosen to follow Chaos, then they would have been the best of friends.
- Rudyard Kipling's The Ballad of East and West is basically a prolonged exploration of this trope, culminating in the purportedly villainous character being so impressed with his enemy that he sends his own son to serve as the hero's bodyguard.
- In Scott's The Talisman, Sir Kenneth and the Saracen.
- The titular magicians from Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell never lose their mutual respect of each other's abilities, even as their rivalry grows more intense.
- Rangers Apprentice has quite a few of these, most notably Erak the Proud Warrior Race Guy who later becomes a close ally of the protagonists, and Selethen, who ends up the Graceful Loser.
- The Canim from the Codex Alera series consider one of these better to have than a friend.
- Subverted in the Star Wars Expanded Universe; Han Solo tells his evil cousin Thrackan that the Emperor's enemies mourned him as a worthy opponent, though Han knows full well that news of Palpatine's death provoked dancing in the streets.
- Jelaudin in Bones of the Hills - having survived the fall of Samarkand, he understands the Mongols' tactics and is able to counter them. Genghis Khan privately admits a grudging respect for him. Just to drive the point home, his life after the loss of Samarkand is a compressed repeat of Genghis' own. When he dies, Genghis himself comments on his courage and honour.
- Rana Sanga in the Belisarius Series is the Worthy Opponent to Belisarius as a general, and to Raghunath Rao and Valentinian in individual combat. . He has the latter healed and treats him as an honored guest after (just barely) defeating him in single combat and taking him prisoner; when Sanga's army is forced to retreat from the invasion of Persia, he releases Valentinian. In the last two books, Valentinian's role in protecting Sanga's wife and children from a plot against them by Link and the Malwa dynasty is key to Sanga's Heel Face Turn, and he eventually sends his own son and heir to be Valentinian's apprentice in the art of combat.
- Also Domodara to a lesser extent and before their Heel Face Turns Kungas and Vasudeva. In fact the Rajputs and the Kushans in general, being Proud Warrior Races kind of qualify for this.
- Lancer and Saber in Fate Zero. Neither one is really a bad or good guy, they just happen to be on opposite sides pursuing the same goal. And their Masters are both a lot less noble.
- Emeth, the good Calormene from CS Lewis's The Last Battle, tells Peter he'd be glad to have him either for an enemy or for a friend, and that there's a Calormene poet who wrote, "A noble friend is the best gift and a noble enemy the next best."
- Harry Dresden and Gentleman Johnny seem to invoke this trope. Both mistrust yet repect the others accomplishments. Marcone seems to always keep his word, and in Small Favor refused to be rescued before the Archive. Even though they seem to end up working together more then against each other. [[spoiler:Though when Harry found out about the comatose girl, he told Marcone that he could keep the Shroud of Turin for three days as long as he mailed it back afterward.—
- Varr in Ben Counter's Warhammer 40000 Soul Drinkers novel Chapter War. When he learns the Soul Drinkers are renegades, he admits to being in a penal unit for having revolted, for much the same reasons. He does not fight them until compelled by the Howling Griffons, and apologizes for it.
Live Action TV
- The Master from Doctor Who clearly believes the Doctor to be a Worthy Opponent, to the point that in "The Five Doctors" he agrees to save the Doctor's life, musing "A cosmos without the Doctor scarcely bears thinking about." The Doctor reciprocates this feeling in the new series.
- The Romulan commander in the Star Trek episode "Balance of Terror", as quoted above.
- It is extremely common throughout the Original Series (and it's movies) for the opponenet to be a Worthy Opponent of Kirk, or at the very least have a very healthy respect for him (albeit one full of hatred).
- Most notable of these was Khan Noonien Singh, originally a Worthy Opponent of Kirk— as well as the only one who was also an actual Earth-man (vs. simply a metaphor); in Space Seed, the two Worthy Opponents parted in mutual respect and honor, with Kirk dropping all charges against Khan, and granting him his original wish of a new world to command.
- In the movie Wrath of Khan, he was changed to a Big Bad with a serious grudge against Kirk, as the new world ended up being becoming an inhospitable wasteland after six months due to a Negative Space Wedgie and his wife subsequently died from brain slugs.
- Also from Trek (and also Romulan), Commander Sela was Data's Worthy Foe - a concept TNG constantly beat us over the head and chest with whenever Sela showed up.
- This is sort-of played with on The Colbert Report with the segment "Formidable Opponent", where Stephen debates himself, with the footage flipped and the background color changed (from red to blue, naturally).
- Similarly, red and blue ties.
- Used as a Take That against one guest when Colbert referred to him as "a formidable opponent", implying an unfortunate similarity between the guest and his own Strawman Political character.
- Note that in the segments themselves, one Stephen Colbert generally rhetorically runs over the other Colbert, implying that the claim of worthiness is typical self-serving braggadocio on the character's part.
- Hauptmann Hans Dietrich of Rat Patrol. Though he was rarely able to stop the Allied commando unit, he was smart and always honorable.
- Mr. Wolf, leader of a bank-robbing team of former Marines who engages in an epic duel of wits and will with police negotiator Horst Cali in Kill Point
- Steven Keane from Highlander: The Series
- FBI Agent Alexander Mahone, Worthy Opponent to Prison Break protagonist Michael Scofield in the second season. Mahone frequently expresses his professional admiration of Michael, and is the only person that Michael really fears will catch him (out of, you know, the entire United States law enforcement community). However, while he fulfils pretty much every other requirement to a T, Mahone brutally subverts one aspect of the trope by being genuinely committed to killing Michael, and offs a fair few other characters along the way.
- Firefly In the movie The Operative clearly regards his prey as this. He rebukes Dr Matthias for calling Simon's rescue "madness", and compliment's Mal for his courage. His graciousness is NOT returned, in this case for highly understandable reasons.
- In the Pilot, Mal calls a previous clash with Patience a "legitimate conflict of interest" this is not QUITE this but almost. In Trash if I recall, he has some kind words for the man he just robbed.
- Early might be interpreted as having a bit of respect for Simon. At least enough to know that he could only threaten him with Kaylee.
- Probably the only mutual respect in the show was Mal and the Sheriff in Train Job.
Mythology
Professional Wrestling
Video Games
Webcomics
Western Animation
- Prince Zuko from Avatar The Last Airbender filled this role for Aang in the first season. In fact, after Zuko frees Aang from the Fire Nation (because Zuko wanted to be the one to capture him), Aang says something very similar to the Romulan Commander quote at the top of this page.
- Robin and Slade in Teen Titans
- One would argue Slade considers Robin a Worthy Opponent but Robin simply sees Slade as a diabolical villain. A better Worthy Opponent comparison would be Robin and Red X.
- The "second" Red X, at least. Robin was actually the original Red X.
- Brock Samson and Molotov Cocktease are one part this, two parts really frustrating Foe Yay.
- Kim Possible and Shego. They're like sisters.
- In a non-combat related example, look at Huey and the government agent in one particular episode of The Boondocks. Yes, Huey is suspicious of the man, who may or many not always be watching, but they both understand where the other is coming from and engage in calm and intelligent conversation. The agent even mentions at the end of the episode of Huey ever needs to talk about something, he'd lend an ear.
- The straight example is Vlad and Danny in Danny Phantom, but one episode had Skulker of all people declaring Valerie and Danny to be this. So much so that he hunted them both when he couldn't decide who was better.
- Samurai Jack had his share of those.
- A warrior cursed by Aku to spend eterninty encrusted in the rockbed but who then managed to shape himself into a huge lava monster actually begged Jack to become his Worthy Opponent and strike him down in a battle in order to lift the curse and free his spirit.
- Desperate to beat Jack Aku enlisted a tribe of superb hunters from another planet to capture the elusive samurai. They scored a success but unfortunately for himself Aku Did Not Do The Research and thus didn't know that by the hunters' custom a prey that demonstrated such remarkable prowness as Jack did deserved to run free.
- The title character of Where On Earth Is Carmen Sandiego is sometimes depicted as viewing Zack and Ivy in this way, genuinely liking them and enjoying the long-standing battle of wits she has with them.
- Zim and Dib from Invader Zim are certainly worthy of one another. Doesn't mean they are particularly good at what they do though.
Real Life
- After the Russian army defeated the Swedes in the Northern war the Russian emperor Peter the Great treated the captive Sweden officers with great respect and even allowed them to keep their swords. During the celebration feast Peter raised glass to the Swedish king Carl XII and called him his teacher.
- WWI German fighter pilot Manfred von Richthofen, better known today as the Red Baron, was greatly admired among the Allied powers. Upon his death, he was given a full military funeral by his Australian opponents. Erwin Rommel, the Wehrmacht Field Marshal from World War II, known as the Desert Fox by his enemies, was similarly praised by his opponents, especially his legendary archrival George Patton. Both the Red Baron and the Desert Fox were the living Magnificent Bastards of their time (in fact, the trope Magnificent Bastard was named after Rommel). It should be noted that Rommel, while not a member of the Nazi party, was still under the command of Adolf Hitler. However, he had Jewish friends and consistently defied orders to execute both Jewish and non-Jewish prisoners of war. In fact, his Afrikakorps was well known for being fairly humane and were not charged with any war crimes under his command. Though not directly involved, he knew enough about the German Resistance's July 20 plot to kill Hitler to become entangled in the aftermath and was given the choice of suicide over execution. The fact that he managed to become the only German general from the Second World War with his own museum just shows how well he exemplified both Magnificent Bastard and Worthy Opponent.
- In fact, real-life examples pop up all over the place: at the Battle of Hastings, the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans shouted to each other when they were resting at night, and there's also the famous Christmas truce of 1914.
- Another is the rivalry between Takeda Shingen and Uesegi Kenshin, two Daimyos in Japan. Although ruling different territories, and often waging war against one another, legend says they developed a deep respect for one another, to the point where Kenshin reportedly wept openly and loudly at the death of Shingen, and never again attacked Shingen's territory.
- Kenshin went so far as to break a blockade against Shingen during his opponent's most dire hour, sending him salt (for preserving food) and saying: "Wars are to be won with swords and spears, not with rice and salt."
- King Fredrick the Great of Prussia once commented on Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, "I warred with her, but I was never her enemy."
- Union and Confederate soldiers in the American Civil War sometimes conducted temporary truces to trade for tobacco, food or alcohol, with or without their superior officers' knowledge or consent. There is at least one documented instance of soldiers deserting and joining the opposing side because their commanding officer killed a soldier they had made a truce with.
- Also from the Civil War: General Robert E. Lee was well respected by many members of the Union, including Abraham Lincoln.
- Ulysses S. Grant was similary well respected by Lee, who, after the war, never, ever tolerated an unkind word about Grant in his presence. Joseph Johnston was similarly disposed towards his rival. Considering that the rival in question was the oft-villainized William T. Sherman, that's saying something. Johnston even served as a pallbearer at Sherman's funeral, and refused to cover up despite poor health and bone-chilling winter. Because of this he caught pneumonia and died a few weeks after Sherman's funeral.
- Indeed the Civil War was full of this, as most of the Confederate officers had been Union officers until just before the war.
- Raizo Tanaka(from an American troper's point of view of course). He was one of Japan's finest naval officers and the leader of the legendary Tokyo Express in the Solomon Islands Campaign in 1942-43. He kept Japanese outposts alive, and evacuated them when the time came, in the teeth of the American naval and air forces, fighting a number of fierce actions. Fortunately for American arms, envy of his success and anger at his lack of tact caused the Obstructive Bureaucrats of the Imperial Japanese Navy to beach him.
- Isoroku Yamamoto, the architect of Pearl Harbour, had a tremendous respect and appreciation for the military power of the United States, gained whilst working as a Japanese naval attache in Washington. He repeatedly advised the Japanese government not to pursue a course of war against the USA and was vocally opposed to the Tripartite Pact (the alliance with Germany and Italy), which led to him receiving death threats. When ordered to present a plan for a sneak attack on the US fleet, he judged it futile, claiming that even in the best-case scenario (the destruction of the US carriers) all he would gain is six to twelve months of freedom of action in the Pacific before the US gained the upper hand, and sure enough the US achieved this by winning the Battle of Midway just six months after Pearl Harbour. Whilst Yamamoto's respect for the military and naval power of the United States was high, this was not entirely reciprocated, as his role in planning the 'cowardly' Pearl Harbour attack made him more a figure of hate than respect. That said, the Americans did 'honour' him by going to the trouble of sending a long-range intercept mission to shoot down his aircraft when they learned its flight-plan through code intercepts.
- A fair few Cold War veterans feel this way about some of their opponents on the other side of the Iron Curtain.
- This Troper once witnessed a speech by Putin in Kalinsgrad in German and understood how much a worth opponent he was of the West.
- The military ethic has analogies to the legal ethic in that it presumes that a professional soldier will do his best for the State he serves(barring Very Exceptional Circumstances like Those Wacky Nazis )just as a lawyer does the same for his client. Thus many soldiers do not think it contradictory to try to kill someone and yet admire them as killing is their job but hating isn't, as after all enemy soldiers aren't much different from themselves.
- What with the glorification of chivalry, the Middle Ages should have been full of these, but one outstanding example is Saladin of the Third Crusade who treated Richard the Lionheart with a profound respect. Given the contention surrounding the events that took place during the Crusades, how true this really was may never be known.
- Australians and Turks respect one another a lot. Why? Because they were the very embodiment of this trope to one another in World War I, during the Gallipoli campaign - Australia was Turkey's worthy adversary, and Turkey was Australia's. Though both sides fought with extreme tenacity and dedication, they also fought one another with a great degree of honour. The Turks eventually renamed the beach where the invasion took place "ANZAC Cove" in honour of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps; in return for this, the Australians established the only war memorial in the Australian capital ever dedicated to a former enemy - a tribute to the Turkish commander at Gallipoli, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
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