proverb · Words worth keeping
Divide and conquer.
Divide and conquer.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The instruction links division with conquest. In the supplied gloss, it describes weakening opposition by preventing a group from acting together.
Example
An observer examines whether a proposal sets cooperating groups against each other rather than addressing their shared concerns.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The brief wording does not name a setting or opponent. A careful application can analyse the tactic without endorsing manipulation or hostility. The phrase does not establish that division guarantees success or that disagreement in a group has been deliberately caused.
When to use it
Use it to analyse a claimed strategy with attention to its actual effects.
Keep in mind
Division does not guarantee conquest, and disagreement does not prove manipulation.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown