worthy of them

[keannu]

Does "them" of "worthy of them" refer to "athletes" or "opponents"?

(5)

The Trappist monk Thomas Merton once wrote: “Souls are like athletes who need opponents worthy of them if they are to be tried and extended and pushed to the full use of their powers.”​

​

 

[Matthew Wai]

'Them' should refer to 'athletes'.

Not a teacher.

 

[MikeNewYork]

It does.

 

[Weaver67]

We need a house [that is] big enough for us all.
He needs a wife [who is] worthy of him.

Athletes need opponents [who are] worthy of them.

Not a teacher.

 

[lotus888]

Ultimately, they refers to souls -- who like athletes, need worthy opponents to push them to their limit.


--lotus

 

[MikeNewYork]

Grammatically, it refers to athletes.

 

[Matthew Wai]

'Them' refers to 'athletes', to which 'souls' are likened.

Not a teacher.