"Never tell your enemy he is doing the wrong thing."

If you let your enemy know they're making a mistake, they might just correct it. Let's break it down. The idea is straightforward: if someone opposing you is doing something wrong, don’t point it out. Let them continue down the wrong path—it's to your advantage.

Historically, this wisdom is rooted in strategy. Think back to ancient battles when two armies faced off. If a commander saw the enemy making a tactical error, he wouldn't shout, "Hey, you're doing it wrong!" Instead, he’d let them falter, giving his own army a better chance to win. Or look at sports—if the opposing team’s coach makes a poor decision, you wouldn’t run over and offer better advice.

Imagine you're in an intense chess match. Your opponent overlooks a move that could put you in checkmate. You notice their mistake. Do you warn them? Of course not. You capitalize on their oversight and win the game. That’s a clear, practical application.

So, how can you apply this in everyday life? Think about work. If a colleague is mishandling a project and it's to your advantage, you might quietly let them continue. Of course, this doesn’t mean sabotaging people or promoting mistakes maliciously—it’s more about not always rushing to correct others when it could benefit you to let things be.

Picture this: You're working on a group project. One member insists on using a flawed approach. You know it's not going to work well. If calling it out would disrupt the project and make things harder for you, maybe you keep quiet and let them learn from the experience. It’s a delicate balance, but sometimes stepping back can be the smarter move.

But let’s make it even more relatable. Think about playing Monopoly. You're eyeing the board, plotting your next move, and you notice your friend is about to make a poor financial decision—buying a property they can’t afford. Do you step in and save them? Not if you’re playing to win. You let them make the purchase, hoping they'll land in financial trouble, which ultimately could lead to your victory.

This approach isn't about being deceitful or mean-spirited; it's about strategic patience. If you’re always quick to point out mistakes, you might miss opportunities where others’ errors can work in your favor. So, in competitive environments, whether in business, games, or even friendly debates, sometimes the best strategy is to let sleeping dogs lie.

Remember, it’s not about promoting a lack of integrity—it's about choosing your battles. If someone's mistake isn't catastrophic and could give you a little edge, maybe let it slide. It's tactical, not treacherous.