“If you are capable, appear incapable.”Sun Tzu · Arta războiului · -500 · capitolul 1
To win, conceal your strength to mislead your opponent.
Sun Tzu advises hiding your true capabilities to make the enemy underestimate you. If you appear weak, the adversary becomes arrogant and makes mistakes. For example, a sports team might intentionally play below its level in the first half, then attack with full force when the opponents become careless.
Why it matters In professional life, not flaunting all your assets from the start can be a smart strategy for winning negotiations or competitions.