Divide and Conquer: The Art of Tactical Triumph 🛡️
🛡️ Divide and Conquer/Rule/Govern, To 🛡️
Meaning: To win by getting one’s opponents to fight among themselves. This strategy not only was discovered to be effective in wartime by the most ancient of adversaries, but was also applied to less concrete affairs by Jesus: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand” (Matthew 12:25). The exact term is a translation of a Roman maxim, divide et impera (divide and rule).
📕 Related Terms & Proverbs
- Divide and Rule: Splitting a large entity into smaller factions that are easier to control. “Divide and rule, a sound motto. Unite and lead, a better one.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
- United We Stand, Divided We Fall: Unity provides strength, while division leads to failure. “We must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.” – Benjamin Franklin
- A House Divided Cannot Stand: Internal conflicts will lead to collapse. Referenced in the Bible and famously quoted by Abraham Lincoln.
🎵 In Pop Culture and Literature
- Books: “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu – a timeless military strategy guide.
- Movies: “Game of Thrones” – a fantasy series rife with political intrigue and division.
- Songs: “United We Stand” by the Brotherhood of Man, tapping into the power of unity against division.
- Poetry: “The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats – speaks to internal anarchy and division.
💡 Inspirational Thought: “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson
🎯 Quizzes!
“Remember, the key to handling opposition is not just knowing where to strike, but knowing when it’s best they don’t even realize they’re fighting.” – C. L. Cleverling, October 2023
