[May 5, 2026] Your enemies will tell you things about yourself that you do not know and that no one else will tell you. Of course, some of those things might not be true. But some of them will. And if your enemies tell you something terrible about yourself that’s true; they immediately become your harshest critics and best friends. So listen intently to your enemies.
Listen to them, and listen closely, because you will want to know if there’s something terrible about yourself, so that you can get it rectified before it ruins your life and your family’s life. Listen because what your enemies say to you can also detrimentally affect the course of the world.
If you have very good enemies, they will show you the flaws in your character that you didn’t know were there. And here is a strange way to look at your life: you should welcome their attacks on you. The more vicious the attack, the more of your potential and hidden flaws might be revealed. It is those attacks that will force you to contend with and test those terrible things and flaws in your personality.
No one else is going to tell you those things about yourself. If you don’t know them, you’re not very smart. Your good enemies are going to tell you, in a blunt way, why you’re such a fool, and then, with foresight, you can create solutions to overcome them. Having enemies, however, doesn’t mean making enemies unnecessarily. Avoid doing so.
To listen to your enemies is also ancient counsel. Respect them. Know them. This is why counsel from the distant past is so powerful. We see this in stories from our ancestors, who urge us to pay attention to and respect our enemies, or to “love” them for who they are and for what they can do for us. For example, we see it in the New Testament of the Bible.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” – Matthew 5:43-44 (NIV)
In their attack on you, your enemies will help you recognize within yourself the things that must be addressed: weaknesses, susceptibility to temptation, narcissism, pride, envy, resentment, frustration, lack of faith, and the like. That will certainly be enough to keep you occupied. This struggle with your inadequacies foreshadows the human condition, in which an ever-present enemy pushes and pulls at us, making us stronger and better because of that very struggle.
It is no surprise that this wisdom also tells us that a world with enemies is better. No enemies. No challenge. No adversary. No struggle. The conclusion is that we are stronger and better because of those eternal adversaries. Life is rough enough. Without being pushed and pulled, we often cannot fathom the motivation and the power to push back, gaining the physical, mental, and spiritual strength needed to survive, endure, and prosper.
A world with enemies is a better world. This is not easily understood. People have been trying to understand it for thousands of years. This is why it is a spiritual battle. So listen intently to your enemies, for they have given you a fighting chance to become a better person.
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Please read my books:
Luke 6:27 (NIV): “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”
Matthew 5:44 – Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
BRILLIANT
Brilliant series.
Gen. Satterfield is right about listening to your enemies. He says they will point out your hidden flaws that no one else dares to mention. Even if some of their words hurt, you should pay close attention because the truth can help you fix problems before they ruin your life. Enemies act like tough coaches who push you to become stronger and smarter. Without challenges from them, people stay weak and blind to their own mistakes. This idea matches old advice from the Bible about loving your enemies and learning from them. Ignoring what they say might let your weaknesses grow bigger over time. By facing criticism head-on, you build real character and prepare for bigger battles ahead. So stay alert and use your enemies’ words as a tool to grow into a better person.
This makes now for six rules beyond the original 55. ❤️. More greatness.
It is great to see that General Satterfield is back with his continuing series on how to live a good life. In this case he warns us that it is better to be having a “terrible adventure” than sitting alone in our house doing nothing like watching televsion and feeding our face. Get out of the house, as my mother used to tell me. Go play with your friends, another favorite. Please continue with this series, it is the best.
This article on listening to your enemies sounds a lot like the philosophy of Sun Tzu, the great Chinese general, politician, and philosopher. The main difference from what Gen. Satterfield writes and Sun Tzu is that Gen. S. tells us about the personal focus, while Sun Tzu tells of a more sociological perspective. Good work here by Gen. S. I’m glad that he is back with the series on how to be a good person. Read his book on “55 Rules for a Good Life” as linked to just below the article. Here is one of my favorite articles on Sun Tzu by Gen. Satterfield. ✅
“Sun Tzu: Win Without Fighting”
https://www.theleadermaker.com/sun-tzu-win-without-fighting/
Good catch, Jason. Sun Tzu is well known. I first heard of him when I was in High School. Nothing like learning from the masters.
GOOD ADVICE, a great place to get what we should all be looking for to be a good person.
Very nice, Gen. Satterfield. My question is “When will you be running out of ‘rules’?” Now that is a good question. Actually I love them all.
I really liked this rule about listening to your enemies. It makes sense that they point out stuff no one else will say. Sometimes the criticism hurts but it can be true. I’ve had people call me out and it forced me to fix my attitude. Welcoming attacks sounds weird at first but it helps you grow stronger. The Bible part about loving enemies fits right in. Without challenges we’d all stay soft and blind to our flaws. This is solid advice for leaders and regular folks too. I’m gonna try paying more attention next time someone comes at me. Thanks for sharing this today, Gen. Satterfield. Well done! More please. 👍
Ha Ha, great comment Billy. Took the words right out of my mouth (figuratively, of course). The Biblical quote is soon on.
Learn about your enemy. Learn about evil. Combined with fear and the lack of moral courage, failure to know your enemy will lead to the expansion of evil. Not maybe; if you don’t know the enemy, a dangerous game is being played. Today, we see the worldwide growth of terror, the crushing of ideas, the rejection of Judaism and Christendom, and the labeling free speech as evil. Our response has been timid, underwhelming, and restricted mainly to the West. An enemy is destroyed through strength and courage, never through acquiescence or appeasement. To know your enemy, you must – at least symbolically – become your enemy. The surviving texts from the ancient world tell of a Chinese General named Sun Tzu. He wrote more than two millennia ago, “To know your enemy, you must become your enemy.” – from the articles of Gen. Doug Satterfield
Don’t forget where it all started: “55 Rules for a Good Life,” on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/55-Rules-Good-Life-Responsibility/dp/1737915529/
Paul, yep, for those who have not read much of Gen. Satterfield’s works, getting a copy of his book will put you on the right track. These new “Rules” are going to be an update for his book someday. The question I have is “How many more Rules will he have?” If you want to find 56 thru 60, just put “RULES” into the search feature of his website and they pop up.
Thanks, nail it. You beat me to this comment. I will offer a guess that he will add another 10 to 15 more rules.
This article by Gen. Satterfield makes a smart point about listening to your enemies. They often tell the truth that friends won’t say. It helps you spot your own weaknesses and get better. The Bible part really stood out to me. Jesus said to love your enemies and pray for them. That takes real strength but leads to growth. I like how Gen. S. mixes real life advice with scripture. It feels practical for leaders today. Overall, this is worth reading and thinking about.
WOW WOW WOW General Satterfield is BACK with his “Rules for a Good Life.” Best news today. 🙏