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Dercylidas's Deception
- Dercylidas, a Spartan commander, needed to capture a city loyal to Persia.
- He stalled for time by pretending to follow unfavorable divine omens, allowing the Greeks within the city to stage a coup.
Modern Applications of Dercylidas's Strategy
- Leverage vague excuses like "scientific studies" or "macroeconomic factors" to postpone decisions when needing more time.
- Use such tactics sparingly, prioritizing honesty to build trust.
Sophia and Cleverness in Leadership
- Xenophon, the storyteller, admired Dercylidas's cleverness (Sophia).
- He saw such trickery as a virtue in leadership, similar to the wisdom Jesus encouraged in his disciples.