There is a quote from the Art of War that has been on the tip of my tongue for the past week or so that I just can’t remember (and haven’t had a chance to look up). It involved giving your enemy one target while you position your strength in another place.
If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. All we need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve. If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely traced out on the ground. All we need do is to throw something odd and unaccountable in his way.
- Sun Tzu