If we use the words friend or foe, we're viewing our ego-self as something that's separate from us, when really it's a part of us. Therefore, in my view those terms do not apply.

This is one of my favorite ego quotes because the intuitive mind refers to the higher mind or higher self and the rational mind refers to the ego-self.

"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." Albert Einstein - 1879 – 1955

I see it as understanding the action of our mind rather than as taming something. Once our ego-self understands what it is and what it is comprised of and that there's no real death, it voluntarily relegates itself to the position of an advisor to the total self or being and no longer tries to control everything.