divide and conquer

Greek Learning Greek
1

A couple of threads could have been running there with this title but unfortunately I cannot locate one.

I was looking for a Greek quote that says “divide and conquer”. Perseus search gave me a couple of possible cognate ideas bu t not the exact quotation. It is mentioned that Pillippus II the father of Alexander the Great regarded it an important strategem. But I couldn’t find it said in Greek as it is nicely put in Latin “divide et impera”.

I couldn’t find the imperative of διχάζω in perseus search, though I calculate it διχάζε. But then I thought, to make it loosely rhyme, although rhyming was not popular in Classical Greek, would it convey the meaning if I put it “διχῆ νίκη”?

2

I think that the quote, at least in the form we know, is from Niccolo Machiavelli’s book “The Prince” (XVI c.).

As far as the Greek goes, all I can tell you is that it’s not Homer’s.

3

So the rule for use of the military is that if you outnumber the opponent ten to one, then surround them; five to one, attack; two to one, divide.
Sun Tzu The Art of War

4

“Διαίρει και βασίλευε”

I guess it’s a direct translation from Latin, meaning “divide and rule”.

I always thought it’s a quote by Caesar.

5

I was aware of Sun Tzu’s quote, Peter, that’s why I went through the trouble of saying “in the form we know it”. Note that Mingshey asks about the quote “divide and conquer”, not the quote “so the rule for use of the military […]”. I’m sure that many a Chinese sage wrote proverbs about thought and existence many thousands of years ago, and yet if someone mentions “cogito ergo sum” one should point to Descartes.

6

No hai problema, amigo. :slight_smile:

btw, ThomasGR, why not διαίρει καὶ νίκα?

7

Well, I don’t think “nika” is a good rendition for “impera”.

8

Another possiblity: διαστῆσον καὶ ὑπερβαλοῦ.

See Il.1.6 for the motivation for the first word choice.