History WorthyOpponent / Literature

* Simok Aratap in Creator/IsaacAsimov's ''The Stars Like Dust''.

* Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian and his arch-enemy, the mighty wizard Thoth-Amon. In "Shadows in the Skull", forty years of bitter enmity and a chase half across the world culminate with Conan (and his son Conn) killing Thoth-Amon on the shore of what would become the Indian Ocean. Afterwards, Conan muses "He was the greatest of all the foes I have overcome. I shall miss the old scoundrel, in a way". It is worth noting that in the original Creator/RobertEHoward Conan stories, he and Thoth-Amon were no foes at all. They occasionally run across each other, each having his own separate agenda, and in some cases even did each other an unintended good turn. It was only the later continuators of the Conan saga, Creator/LinCarter and Creator/LSpragueDeCamp, who felt that the original Conan lacked an arch-enemy and that Thoth-Amon would fit the role.

** Farinata degli Uberti (Inferno canto X) counts too. He was a Florentine past political leader, and one of the most prominent members of the Ghibellini (the faction which sided with the Emperor as opposed to the Guelfi, which sided with the pope) and he and Dante's ancestors were enemies. From their meeting in hell, it is clear that Dante admires the man, even as he acknowledges their rivalry and differing viewpoints.

* This is how the Nadir ruler Ulric views Druss the Legend, Deathwalker, in ''Literature/{{Legend}}'' by Creator/DavidGemmell. [[spoiler:When Druss falls, Ulric gives him an epic funeral pyre, and honourably accepts some of Druss's allies on the walls to the ceremony.]]

* In ''Literature/{{Kane}}'' story "Reflections on the Winter of My Soul" Evingolis expresses this towards [[VillainProtagonist Kane]] before their fight.

* ''Literature/HoratioHornblower'': In the beginning of ''Flying Colours'', the French officers have a lot of sympathy for Hornblower as their prisoner, as he had previously fought valiantly and decimated their squadron with only one ship. It's also mixed with pity, as they know Napoleon will have him hauled off to Paris and shot on trumped-up charges.

* ''Literature/BazilBroketail'': After the soldiers left from Argonath manage to beat a force of armed imps in the arena of Tummuz Orgreen while having only wooden shields and swords, they're praised for it, then offered a chance to join the Doom's army. They flatly refuse this however, and are ordered killed in a later bout instead.

** Played with using differing perspectives with the duel between Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth. The first time, it's from the perspective of Jaime, who notes her strength is comparable only to other people he's fought known for their physical power, that she seems utterly tireless, and she's no slouch skillwise, either. In a later book, in a chapter from Brienne's perspective, she remembers how Jaime was ridiculously skilled with a sword, despite being starved, not having practiced in a year, and with his hands manacled.

*** [[spoiler:Drakul]] is impressed by Harry's defiance, resisting his raw will, and lamenting that his own heir lacked that same strength. However, he also observes that while he would normally offer [[WeCanRuleTogether "the dark gift of immortality"]], [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments five minutes of Harry is about as much as he can stand]].

* ''Literature/TheAngloAmericanNaziWar'': When the Allies invade Nazi-occupied Europe, American, British and Indian soldiers alike quickly learn to respect the "old bastards", the Heer troops pressed back into service to help defend the Reich. Despite being in their fourties and fifties by 1958 and armed with outdated weapons, their extensive combat experience and methodical approach to battle means that they fight quite impressively and even sometimes manage to get one over on the Allies. The same cannot be said for the Waffen SS (who are better equipped but [[TheBerserker fight like fanatics without regard for tactics or their safety]], making them easy to defeat) and the [[ChildSoldiers Hitler Youth]] (who are [[NightmareFuel terrifying]] and [[TearJerker plain tragic]] in equal measure).

* The ''Literature/{{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 [[JustifiedTrope makes more sense]].

** Harry also earned this status with the Erlking, Faerie Lord of goblins and master of TheWildHunt. He initially pissed off the Erlking by trying to bind him in place to save the world (long story, involving ghosts, ghouls, necromancers, and a couple of very important books) and the Erlking intended to kill Harry for the offense, but then Harry [[spoiler: raised a freaking ''T. rex'' zombie and rode it to war]], which impressed the Erlking so much that he put off the impending wizard-killing until their next meeting. When they ''do'' meet again, the Erlking sarcastically refers to Harry as a "guest" and Harry [[SacredHospitality latches onto that like a bulldog]], further impressing the Erlking with his quick mind and PolitenessJudo.

* Ned Stark felt this way about the Kingsguard he and his companions had to slay in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire.'' One particular instance that highlights this is when Ned makes it a point to return [[KnightInShiningArmor Arthur Dayne's]] sword, Dawn, back to his family.

* ''Literature/SpinningSilver'': The [[OurElvesAreDifferent Staryk king]] comes to see [[GuileHero Miryem]] as this after she bests his seemingly impossible task of turning all of the silver within three enormous store rooms into gold. While she manages to transform the silver in the first two rooms within the deadline, she realizes that she'll never manage to do the third, so she [[TakeAThirdOption instead has the servants cart the remaining silver out of the third store room, leaving it empty]]. Meaning she has [[ExactWords technically satisfied their agreement]]. He's so impressed with the act that it's what finally causes him to see her as an equal as opposed to another [[CantArgueWithElves puny mortal]].
* ''Literature/HoratioHornblower'': In the beginning of ''Flying Colours'', the French officers have a lot of sympathy for Hornblower as their prisoner, as he had previously fought valiantly and decimated their squadron with only one ship. It's also mixed with pity, as they know Napoleon will have him hauled off to Paris and shot on trumped-up charges.
* ''Literature/NightfallSeries'': Prince Vladimir laments that his life is boring without a worthy enemy. His solution is to teach TheHero, Myra, how to better manipulate him and how to be a more challenging opponent.
* In the ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' series, Thomas Theisman would qualify, taking into account that Honor ''fears'' and respects him at the same time. Lester Tourville, too, particularly after that business in the Selker Rift. And then there's Javier Giscard, Warner Caslet, Eloise Pritchart, Shannon Foraker... Basically, despite the horribleness of the People's Republic's regime, Haven is a hotbed of these for Manticore. [[spoiler:Which is why the [[BigBad Mesan Alignment]] is scared out of its pants when it learns that Manticore and Haven (which has undergone [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeVilified a rather substantial shift in government in the meanwhile]]) have signed a military ''alliance''.]]
** Victor Cachat and Anton Zilwicki.
* In Creator/DavidGemmell's ''Ravenheart''. One of the Villain's men, Huntsekker, kills one of his own men for breaking a promise made to one of the enemy
* ''Literature/DancingAztecs'': Bad Death Jonesburg claims to feel this way boat rival gangster Mole Mouth Dudnershaft (who he is rumored to have killed himself) and insists on throwing him a lavish funeral.
* ''Literature/SherlockHolmes'':
** Holmes considers Irene Adler from "A Scandal in Bohemia" to be this.
** Professor Moriarty is another example. At their fateful last encounter, Moriarty lets Holmes write a farewell letter to Watson before starting their fight to the death, and Holmes knows he can trust Moriarty to wait patiently until the letter is finished and not to push him into the nearby falls while his attention is on the paper.
** John Clay in ''The Red-Headed League'' is so hard to catch that he and Holmes never see each other until the story. This trope kicks in near the end-Clay outright praises Holmes for his arrangements and quick thinking, while Holmes compliments Clay for his excellent scheme and how close it came to succeeding. Furthermore, although Clay is outright rude to Inspector Jones, he bows to Holmes and Watson as he heads off to jail.
** When Maurice Le Blanc needed a worthy opponent to his own character, Literature/ArseneLupin, especially as Ganimard simply wasn't cutting it, he instead decided to use Sherlock Holmes, though for copyright reasons, his name was changed to Herlock Shears or Homlock Sholmes (who lives in ''Parker Street'' with his roommate ''Wilson''). The first Crossover, where Sherlock Holmes arrives too late, kept the original names, however. Since Holmes became Public Domain, most editions today change it back to the original names.

** Later, he comes to regard team leader Jake as such too, repeatedly complimenting his tiger morph. Near the very end of the series, a former hostage of the enemy says they should listen to Jake- a sixteen year old boy- because he's the only person Visser Three is afraid of.

* The ''Literature/{{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 [[JustifiedTrope makes more sense]].

* Sergey Golovko or the Soviet Union as a whole in the ''Literature/JackRyan'' novel series.
* In Creator/DanAbnett's ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' ''Literature/{{Eisenhorn}}'' novels, Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn regards the SealedEvilInACan 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.

* In his poem [[http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/american_rebellion.html "The American Rebellion"]] Creator/RudyardKipling wrote of Washington and King George's soldiers: "Each for his land, in a fair fight,/Encountered, strove, and died,/And the kindly earth that knows no spite/Covers them side by side."
* In Scott's ''The Talisman'', Sir Kenneth and the Saracen.
* The titular magicians from ''Literature/JonathanStrangeAndMrNorrell'' never lose their mutual respect for each other's abilities, even as their rivalry grows more intense.
* ''Literature/RangersApprentice'' has quite a few of these, most notably, Erak the ProudWarriorRaceGuy, [[spoiler: who later becomes a close ally of the protagonists]], and Selethen, [[spoiler: who ends up the GracefulLoser.]]

* Franchise/StarWarsLegends:
** Subverted in ''Literature/TheCorellianTrilogy''; Han Solo tells his [[EvilTwin 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.
** In the ''Literature/XWingSeries'' novel ''Solo Command'', General Han Solo and Admiral Teren Rogriss, respectively the New Republic and Imperial commanders responsible for ending Warlord Zsinj, have a great respect for each others' talents and ethics, seeing their counterpart as an enemy, but a far preferable one to the skilled by cruel Warlord. This extends to [[EnemyMine a brief sort of truce]] where Rogriss brings an [[NoWarpingZone Interdictor cruiser]] into battle alongside Solo's fleet in a trap that nearly destroys Zsinj's own flagship. (Since the admiral working with the New Republic in this way is technically treason, [[GuileHero Solo arranges for its escort]] to be composed of captured Star Destroyers so the crew is none the wiser.) The two also share information on Zsinj's tactics, worlds, and holdings--including an extensive corporate empire that [[OffscreenVillainDarkMatter funds all of his other projects]]--that allows their respective intelligence agencies to dismantle his support.
** A straight example (also seen in the Video Game section) is seen with the [[ProudWarriorRace Mandalorians]]. Much of their history and mentality is in ''finding'' worthy challenges and worthy opponents to fight in an inversion of IFightForTheStrongestSide. They don't want to support the strongest faction in the universe, they want to challenge themselves by fighting against it. Unfortunately, this often means challenging the Republic and/or the Jedi (and a StealthInsult to the Sith, as they ''aren't'' the best challenge out there), but the average ''Mando'ad'' will often praise Republic soldiers and Jedi for giving them a challenge and fighting with honor.
** Ganner Rhysode becomes this to the Yuuzhan Vong during and after his LastStand in ''Literature/NewJediOrder: Traitor'', with the Vong military refusing to use explosives or gas against him in spite of him killing hundreds of their number because it would be dishonorable to deny such a mighty enemy personal combat. After his death, the Vong's martial caste are left in awe and respect of his strength and bravery, and he becomes part of the pantheon of the Jeedai Heresy in the form of the Ganner, an invincible giant with a sword of light who guards the underworld's gates. Said gates are inscribed in Basic, not Yuuzhan Vong, with Ganner's battle cry: NONE SHALL PASS.
** In ''Literature/DarkLordTheRiseOfDarthVader'', Roan Shryne and Darth Vader come to see each other as this. On Vader's side, this seems to be because Shryne reminds him of the Jedi he used to be, and [[spoiler:he considers killing Shryne to have brought him closer to the dark side]]. When they finally duel, they are evenly matched in swordsmanship, and [[spoiler:Vader only wins by withdrawing and using [[MindOverMatter telekinesis]] to throw a storm of planks and splinters at Shryne]].
* Jelaudin in ''[[Literature/{{Conqueror}} 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 ''Literature/BelisariusSeries'' is the Worthy Opponent to Belisarius as a general, and to Raghunath Rao and Valentinian in individual combat. [[spoiler: 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 [[spoiler: before ''their'' {{Heel Face Turn}}s, Kungas and Vasudeva]]. In fact, the Rajputs and the Kushans in general, being {{Proud Warrior Race|Guy}}s, kind of qualify for this.
* In ''Literature/TheMistsOfAvalon'', Uther Pendragon cries because the death of a viking king he slew, calling him a good enemy.
* ''LightNovel/FateZero'':
** Lancer and Saber. 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.
** Another example would be Rider and Archer. While Rider is generally affable and respectful against everyone (including the aforementioned Lancer and Saber) unless they show themselves as despicable, Archer is an incredible elitist who considers Rider one of the only beings in the world worth actually respecting. They consider each other worthy opponents to the point that before their final clash, they stop to finish their wine and have one last conversation before each casually walks to the starting positions of the duel. However, Archer does note that while he respects Rider, he ''does not'' consider him an equal, saying that only one man has he ever considered as such, and never again. Those familiar with [[Literature/TheEpicOfGilgamesh Archer's identity and legend]] will know exactly who he's referring to.
* Emeth, the good Calormene from Creator/CSLewis's ''Literature/TheLastBattle'', tells Peter that 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." (Possibly, he sought to invoke a legend about the RealLife Muslim conqueror Saladin, who was famous for his "noble" treatment of Christian enemies.)

* Varr in Creator/BenCounter's ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' novel ''[[Literature/SoulDrinkers Chapter War]]''. When he learns that 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.
* Simok Aratap in Creator/IsaacAsimov's ''The Stars Like Dust''.
--> '''Rizzett:''' You know, if the Tyranni were all like him, damned if I wouldn't join their fleet.
* ''Literature/{{Safehold}}'':
** The Earl of Thirsk is regarded by the protagonists in ''Literature/{{Safehold}}'' to be the single most dangerous commander the enemy has. Given that he was able to score the first victories against the otherwise [[CurbStompBattle Curb Stomping]] Imperial Charisian Navy, this assessment is completely justified.
** The earl's Kingdom of Dohlar as a whole reaches this status as the war with the Temple goes on. Aside from the general competence of commanders like the Earl of Thirsk, the soldiers themselves continued to fight against the Charisian forces despite ever decreasing odds of victory and are easily the most successful military force fighting them. They also commit few, if any atrocities on their own. The kingdom's single worst act, handing Charisian [=POWs=] to the Inquisition for ColdBloodedTorture and execution, was forced on them. When the war ends there are few hard feelings between Charis and Dohlar as a whole, with Charisian businesses seeking investment opportunities in the kingdom within months of the initial ceasefire.
* In the ''Film/IronMan 2'' novelisation, Tony eventually admits to seeing Ivan this way.

* Given that it's set in a war-torn universe with prominent HumongousMecha, ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' fiction features these every so often, with perhaps the most iconic example being the rivalry between Morgan Kell (honorable mercenary) and Yorinaga Kurita (classic samurai and follower of ''bushido'') that forms one of the plotlines in the ''Warrior'' trilogy.
* The Science Fiction and Fantasy of Creator/PoulAnderson are full of worthy opponents; in fact, the opponents in most of his works fit into this type. For example, in the novel ''Star Fox'', a relationship of grudging respect is built up between the hero, space privateer Gunnar Heim, and his enemy, Cynbe, an exceptionally gifted member of the alien Alerione, trained from a young age to understand his species' human enemies to the point of being alienated from his own kind. In the final scene, Cynbe challenges Heim to a space battle which only one of them would survive. Heim accepts, whereupon Cynbe says, "I thank you, my brother."
* In Creator/WilkieCollins's epistolary novel ''Literature/TheWomanInWhite'', [[AffablyEvil Count Fosco]] spends a great part of the few pages he narrates rambling about his Worthy Opponent [[ActionGirl Marian Halcombe]]. Granted, part of the rambling is because he's also in love with her. But still.
* Bungo Pete in ''Run Silent, Run Deep''.

* Cao Cao and Liu Bei in ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms''. They began on the same side, but were forced apart as Cao Cao ceased to believe that the Han was worth saving as anything but a puppet, and Liu Bei wished to restore the throne to its former glory. Cao Cao would declare to Liu Bei that they were the only two true heroes in all of the land, a hero here being defined (in text) as [[{{Ubermensch}} "ones who cherish lofty designs in their bosoms and have plans to achieve them. They have all-embracing schemes, and the whole world is at their mercy."]]
* Creator/FrederickForsyth's ''Literature/TheDayOfTheJackal'' relates the battle of wits between the Jackal (Chacal in French) -- an assassin hired to kill French President Charles De Gaulle -- and Deputy Commissioner Claude [=LeBel=] of the French police, charged with stopping him. Lebel and the Jackal develop a grudging respect for each other, without ever meeting -- with the Jackal again and again evading Lebel's clever traps and Lebel again and again penetrating the Jackal's clever disguises. Lebel certainly appreciates the Jackal far higher then he does the government officials he has to work with. When they at last meet face to face, they look, for a split second, into each other's eyes, Lebel saying "Chacal" and the Jackal saying "Lebel" before they scramble to kill each other. Lebel, being a split second quicker, wins. On the following day, he attends the Jackal's burial in a nameless grave, saying nothing to the handful of other people present.
* Ned Stark felt this way about the Kingsguard he and his companions had to slay in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire.'' One particular instance that highlights this is when Ned makes it a point to return [[KnightInShiningArmor Arthur Dayne's]] sword, Dawn, back to his family.
** Played with using differing perspectives with the duel between Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth. The first time, it's from the perspective of Jaime, who notes her strength is comparable only to other people he's fought known for their physical power, that she seems utterly tireless, and she's no slouch skillwise, either. In a later book, in a chapter from Brienne's perpsective, she remembers how Jaime was ridiculously skilled with a sword, despite being starved, not having practiced in a year, and with his hands manacled.

* Martel is portrayed this way in ''Literature/TheElenium'', despite his betrayal of the Pandion Knights. Before the final duel, he expresses a similar sentiment about Kurik. [[spoiler:When Martel is killed, Sparhawk and Sephrenia both mourn over him, and Martel calls them "the only two people that I ever loved"]]
* [[TheCaptain The Kapitänleutnant]] in Lothar-Günther Buchheim's [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII WWII]] novel ''Film/DasBoot'' positively gushes about the skill of his British enemies, in contrast to his frustration with [[ThoseWackyNazis his own higher-ups]].
* Erich Von Stalhein in the Biggles books is of a similar mould. A clear-cut case of MyCountryRightOrWrong with a stubborn sense of honour and no particular loyalty to any of the regimes he serves under, except perhaps UsefulNotes/ImperialGermany, he eventually ends up [[spoiler: betrayed and imprisoned by his Soviet superiors in East Germany and imprisoned on Sakhali precisely because of this trope.]]
* The Norwegian detective Literature/HarryHole and Rudolf Asayev, the urbane, intellectual and utterly ruthless drug lord Hole confronts in "Phantom", the ninth book of the series. When Hole finally unmasks Asayev and they come face to face, Asayev congratulates Hole for the ingenious way Hole escaped the fiendish trap which Asayev had set for him an hour earlier, and says "I really like you, Harry, what I heard of you was not exaggerated". The two then engage in a long philosophical conversation, discuss the moral merits of drug-pushing vs. police work and the complicated relations both of them have with their respective sons, and Asayev tells Hole quite a bit of his life story - and all while talking, both of them prepare their hidden weapons and get ready to kill the other one by surprise. The confrontation, when it comes, ends with Asayev severely wounded and Hole in possession of Asayev's knife - whereupon Asayev whispers: "The iron. Bless me with my iron, my boy. It's burning. For both of our sakes, bring this to an end." Harry Hole, however, cannot bring himself to kill Asayev. Only when Asayev provokes Harry beyond measure by threatening to kill Harry's son by slow torture does he do it.
* British statesman Lord Chesterfield regarded the Jesuits as the "most able and best governed society in the world." in ''Literature/LettersToHisSon'' (letter 85).
* This is how the Nadir ruler Ulric views Druss the Legend, Deathwalker, in ''Literature/{{Legend}}'' by Creator/DavidGemmell. [[spoiler:When Druss falls, Ulric gives him an epic funeral pyre, and honourably accepts some of Druss's allies on the walls to the ceremony.]]
* In ''Literature/HaloGhostsOfOnyx'', [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Elite]] Fleetmaster Voro Nar 'Mantakree recognizes SPARTAN-II Kurt as a fellow warrior and kindred spirit, and as such prepares to grant him an honorable death via energy sword. Kurt does ''not'' share this sentiment, and promptly [[spoiler:detonates two nukes, [[TakingYouWithMe killing himself]] along with [[DyingMomentOfAwesome Voro Nar 'Mantakree and his entire taskforce]]]].
* In ''Literature/TheCandlemassRoad'', when the Red Bull is killed, Reivers and March Wardens alike come to his funeral out of respect.

* In [[Creator/{{DKBroster}} D.K. Broster's]] historical novel "Flight of the Heron", set during the Jacobite rebellion of 1745, the Scottish Highlander rebel Ewen Cameron and the British Army officer Keith Wyndham constantly fight each other, repeatedly capture each other - and repeatedly save each other's life.
* ''Literature/{{Lensman}}'': Helmuth of Boskone is this for Kimball Kinnison. Two novels after Kinnison kills Helmuth, Kinnison looks at a Boskonian defensive emplacement and his first reaction is "Helmuth would never have been this sloppy".
* In ''People of the Wind'' Ythrians and Terrans are worthy opponents of each other, and in the Flandry era of the ''Literature/TechnicHistory'' series several Meresians are as well. In this series and elsewhere Creator/PoulAnderson tends to prefer that the antigonist side has at least one admirable person on it, even if sympathy on the whole is a blatantly against them.
* In ''Literature/{{Insurgent}}'', Tris might be the enemy, but the Dauntless will still honor her for [[spoiler:walking to her execution]].
* ''Literature/GenerationKill'': Several members of the Iraqi armed forces become this to the protagonists, whom at first are dismissive of the Iraqi military. Espera openly praises the discipline of a Republican Guard who died with his finger on the trigger. In one instance, the Marines take an Iraqi soldier prisoner, and are immensely angry with him for resisting them, but when they realise he has similar standing orders to theirs, and has followed them in a way any of them would be proud of, they immediately start giving him candy and cigarettes.
* Foxface from ''Literature/TheHungerGames''. In the book, Katniss is constantly shown to respect Foxface and admire her tactics, often wishing she'd thought of them herself.
* This is the entire point of Kipling's poem [[http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/fuzzy_wuzzy.html "Fuzzy-Wuzzy"]]:
-->So 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your 'ome in the Soudan;
-->You're a pore benighted 'eathen but a first-class fightin' man....
* In the [[Literature/{{Dragaera}} Vlad Taltos]] novels chronologically after ''Phoenix'', Vlad develops this relationship with Jhereg noble called the Demon. As one of the leaders of the [[TheSyndicate Jhereg Organization]], the Demon is obligated to have Vlad killed for breaking the rules of the Organization and testifying to the Empire. He also makes it very clear that it's nothing personal and deeply respects Vlad's cunning and skills, saying that he would have liked to have Vlad as a subordinate. For his part, Vlad respects the Demon's intelligence and pragmatism and admits he would have liked to work under the Demon.
* In Creator/BernardNewman's UsefulNotes/SecondWorldWar thriller ''Literature/MaginotLineMurder'' the idiosyncratic French detective PapaPontivy and his British partner (the writer's namesake) are confronted with a mutilated corpse found in a fortress of the MaginotLine in the tense time of July 1939, just prior to the outbreak of war. With virtually no shred of proof, Pontivy follows his hunch - that a French officer with a seemingly impeccable record is in fact a German spy, who had committed the murder in order to protect his secret. Gradually Pontivy and Newman do find pieces of evidence pointing to a highly resourceful spy, whose true name was Schmidt, who originally enlisted in the FrenchForeignLegion, took the identity of a French officer killed while on colonial duty in Morocco, came to Metropolitan France and gained an appointment to the sensitive Maginot Line - there to start a major espionage and sabotage network. The more Pontivy and Newman discover of him, the greater their respect and indeed admiration for a man who was able to carry out to perfection such an elaborate masquerade over years upon years, alone among his country's enemies. This is reflected in the dialogue when they finally come to arrest him. "What can I say? You won, Monsieur Pontivy. Take me, I have to pay for my failure. But don't hold me in contempt. All that I did, I did for my country". "I don't contempt you, I admire your courage. That is why I came to arrest you in person. (...) I am not too happy about this business. You are too good for the guillotine. You have served your country with great courage, it is not your fault that you failed. I can't regard you as a common murderer." - "Thank you". -" I have here your pistol, with a single bullet in the chamber. If you want, we can go out and leave you alone in this room". - "I am not afraid, but it is sad to die alone. I don't suppose you would want to shake the hand of a German spy?" - "I would not shake the hand of a German spy, but gladly would I shake the hand of a brave man!" Pontivy and Newman shake the doomed man's hand and leave. When the fatal shot rings out, the tough Pontivy wipes a tear, muttering "There goes a man! I wish we could have let him escape...". Adding to the story's poignant end is the fact that a few months after it was published in London, Germany launched its great armored offensive, effortlessly bypassing the supposedly impregnable Maginot Line and occupying France. Thus, the present-day reader knows that but for Pontivy's gallant gesture, the spy Schmidt would have spent a few months in a French prison and then been liberated by his country's army in June 1940.
* Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian and his arch-enemy, the mighty wizard Thoth-Amon. In "Shadows in the Skull", forty years of bitter enmity and a chase half across the world culminate with Conan (and his son Conn) killing Thoth-Amon on the shore of what would become the Indian Ocean. Afterwards, Conan muses "He was the greatest of all the foes I have overcome. I shall miss the old scoundrel, in a way". It is worth noting that in the original Creator/RobertEHoward Conan stories, he and Thoth-Amon were no foes at all. They occasionally run across each other, each having his own separate agenda, and in some cases even did each other an unintended good turn. It was only the later continuators of the Conan saga, Creator/LinCarter and Creator/LSpragueDeCamp, who felt that the original Conan lacked an arch-enemy and that Thoth-Amon would fit the role.
* In ''Literature/WolfHall'', Thomas Cromwell genuinely likes and respects Catharine of Aragon and her daughter Mary for their refusal to slink away quietly when Henry VIII throws them over for Anne Boleyn, even though Cromwell is the one who made it possible for Henry to do that and Catherine's recalcitrance the source of many ongoing problems with Europe. (According to the writing Eustache Chapuys left, the real Cromwell did say that Catherine would have rivaled the great heroes if she'd been a man.)
* Towards the climax of ''Literature/TollTheHounds'' Kallor of all people comes to regard [[spoiler: Spinnock Durav]] as a WorthyOpponent right after their duel.
-->'''Kallor''': ''I have never before faced such a defense.''
* In ''Literature/{{Worm}}'', the Endbringers - a set of NighInvulnerable {{Kaiju}} monsters who have been regularly attacking humankind for thirty years by the start of the series - are implied to be ''created'' specifically to act like these for [[spoiler: Eidolon]] by his powers. In this case, the revelation that this is happening [[spoiler: stuns the ChronicHeroSyndrome Eidolon so badly that he falls into a HeroicBSOD.]]
* In ''Literature/{{Twig}}'', the protagonist, Sylvester, experiences moments of great excitement whenever he encounters someone that could rival him as TheSocialExpert, because simply to watch what they do in response to his own moves is completely fascinating. He finds two in the form of Reverend Mauer, a charismatic religious leader who stages a populist uprising, and Genevieve Fray, a rogue MadScientist with SuperIntelligence which has allowed her to optimize her brain for strategic planning and politics.
* ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'': Eshonai, the Parshendi general, views the Alethi Highprince Dalinar as this. When he escapes a horrible trap by the skin of his teeth, she allows him and his army to rest within arrow range of her army without attacking. When things start getting really desperate, she requests a meeting with him to find a way to solve things peacefully. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, she gets [[DemonicPossession possessed by a Voidspren]], so the meeting ends up fruitless]].
* In ''Literature/TheSpiritThief'':
** Coriano thinks of Josef this way, figuring out he's finally found his match, only for the latter to mop the floor with him when he starts fighting for real.
** The Lord of Storms is overjoyed when he realizes that Josef is capable of going blow to blow with him. As he puts it, he's been waiting five thousand years for someone to challenge him.
* ''Literature/TheAngloAmericanNaziWar'': When the Allies invade Nazi-occupied Europe, American, British and Indian soldiers alike quickly learn to respect the "old bastards", the Heer troops pressed back into service to help defend the Reich. Despite being in their fourties and fifties by 1958 and armed with outdated weapons, their extensive combat experience and methodical approach to battle means that they fight quite impressively and even sometimes manage to get one over on the Allies. The same cannot be said for the Waffen SS (who are better equipped but [[TheBerserker fight like fanatics without regard for tactics or their safety]], making them easy to defeat) and the [[ChildSoldiers Hitler Youth]] (who are [[NightmareFuel terrifying]] and [[TearJerker plain tragic]] in equal measure).
* Denman Malkuth of ''Literature/DanceoftheButterfly'' views Skothiam Felcraft this way, especially considering how he defers to him in the climactic battle of the last chapter.
* ''Literature/TheDivineComedy'':
** Saladin, the Muslim opponent of Richard the Lionhearted during UsefulNotes/TheCrusades, is in the circle with virtuous pagans rather than further down among heretics, probably because of this trope.
** Farinata degli Uberti (Inferno canto X) counts too. He was a Florentine past political leader, and one of the most prominent members of the Ghibellini (the faction which sided with the Emperor as opposed to the Guelfi, which sided with the pope) and he and Dante's ancestors were enemies. From their meeting in hell, it is clear that Dante admires the man, even as he acknowledges their rivalry and differing viewpoints.
* [[Literature/ClockpunkAndTheVitalizer The Vitalizer]] views Clockpunk as one in the end, thanks to her wit and [[spoiler:success in outsmarting/escaping him in her time of captivity]]. She's flattered by his respect.
* In John French’s ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 Literature/ThousandSons'' trilogy, Ahriman gains a grudging respect and admiration for Inquisitor Iobel after she, a mere human with much less psychic power than him, inflicts significant damage to his [[MentalWorld memory palace]] during their BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind. The respect is not mutual on her part.
* In ''Literature/{{Kane}}'' story "Reflections on the Winter of My Soul" Evingolis expresses this towards [[VillainProtagonist Kane]] before their fight.
--> '''Evingolis:''' "Well Kane, this has been a most interesting game. I salute you. You have led an extraordinary career, to use an absurd understatement. I admire you. Perhaps I understand you. And you of all men are the first to command my respect."
* ''Literature/JohannesCabal'': The titular {{Necromancer}} comes to respect the sheer genius and determination of the MadScientist in "House of Gears" for [[spoiler:successfully BrainUploading himself to an analogue computer]], despite the scientist trying to have him ReforgedIntoAMinion. When he has a chance to destroy the scientist, Johannes instead [[spoiler:[[FakeMemories alters his mind]] to remove his ill intentions toward him]].
* ''Literature/{{Heimskringla}}'': After the Battle of Re, in which the Birchleg rebels have been defeated, one of the surviving Birchlegs sneaks into King Magnus' camp and makes an attempt at Magnus' life. He fails and is killed; then the kings' retainers notice that the man was already mortally wounded and had "dragged his guts after him over the floor", and "the man's hardiness was much praised."

* For the protagonists of ''Literature/TheOutlaws'', the main reason for the assassination of Rathenau was his particular talent insight and political talent. These qualities could allow him to stabilise the inner situation in Germany and effectively make any attempt of a Nationalist, right-wing revolution hopeless.

* In post-apocalyptic ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'', Hauptsturmfuehrer Halsing of the neo-Nazi Landwehr proves to be this in his interactions with protagonist John Rumford. While Rumford and the rest of the Northern Confederation quite despise the Nazi ideology, Halsing's resourcefulness, erudition, politeness and unselfish devotion to his cause earn him their grudging respect when they capture him. He seemingly reciprocates the feeling after escaping.
-->'''Rumford:''' About three months later, I got a nice letter from Captain Halsing, postmarked Milwaukee, thanking me for my hospitality. He was the model Nazi, cold, competent, and perfectly polite.

* In Creator/DanAbnett's ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' ''Literature/{{Eisenhorn}}'' novels, Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn regards the SealedEvilInACan 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.

* Varr in Creator/BenCounter's ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' novel ''[[Literature/SoulDrinkers Chapter War]]''. When he learns that 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.

* In ''Literature/{{Kane}}'' story "Reflections on the Winter of My Soul" [[EvilAlbino Evingolis]] expresses this towards [[VillainProtagonist Kane]] before their fight.

* ''Literature/{{Heimskringla}}'': After the Battle of Re, one of the surviving Birchlegs sneaks into King Magnus' camp and makes an attempt at Magnus' life. He fails and is killed; then the kings' retainers notice that the man was already mortally wounded and had "dragged his guts after him over the floor", and "the man's hardiness was much praised."

* ''Literature/{{Heimskringla}'': After the Battle of Re, one of the surviving Birchlegs sneaks into King Magnus' camp and makes an attempt at Magnus' life. He fails and is killed; then the kings' retainers notice that the man was already mortally wounded and had "dragged his guts after him over the floor", and "the man's hardiness was much praised."

* ''Literature/JohannesCabal'': The titular {{Necromancer}} comes to respect the sheer genius and determination of the MadScientist in "House of Gears" for [[spoiler:successfully BrainUploading himself to an analogue computer]], despite the scientist trying to have him ReformedIntoAMinion. When he has a chance to destroy the scientist, Johannes instead [[spoiler:[[FakeMemories alters his mind]] to remove his ill intentions toward him]].