After all, if you make your enemy look like a fool, you lose the justification for engaging him

After all, if you make your enemy look like a fool, you lose the justification for engaging him

John le Carré, the renowned British author of espionage novels, is known for his complex and morally ambiguous characters. In his works, the line between friend and foe is often blurred, and the motivations of his characters are rarely black and white. One of the recurring themes in le Carré's novels is the idea that making your enemy look like a fool can ultimately backfire and undermine your own justification for engaging with them.

In le Carré's world, intelligence operatives are constantly engaged in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, where deception and manipulation are the tools of the trade. However, the characters who are most successful in this game are those who understand the importance of maintaining a certain level of respect for their adversaries. By underestimating or belittling their enemies, these characters risk losing the moral high ground and becoming just as ruthless and unscrupulous as those they seek to defeat.

One of the most memorable examples of this theme can be found in le Carré's novel "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy." In this story, the protagonist, George Smiley, is tasked with uncovering a Soviet mole within the British intelligence service. Throughout the novel, Smiley demonstrates a deep understanding of his enemy, treating them with a level of respect and empathy that sets him apart from his more aggressive and arrogant colleagues. By refusing to stoop to the same level as his adversaries, Smiley is able to outmaneuver them and ultimately achieve his goal.