You shall judge a man by his foes as well as by his friends.

The remark suggests that a person’s character can be inferred not only from the company they keep, but also from the kinds of antagonists they attract. Enemies may reveal what someone stands for: principled people often provoke opposition from those threatened by their integrity, independence, or success. Conversely, the nature of one’s foes can expose flaws—pettiness, cruelty, or a tendency to create needless conflict. The line also implies a social and moral ecology: reputations are shaped in struggle as much as in fellowship, and the contours of a life become visible in the alliances and enmities it generates.