Idea Ripper // ArchiveCards: 1555 [Live] | Updated: 2026-10-14
Card #c1141IR // #c1141Synthesis

"'He taught me tactics.'" "'And pray what will be the use of tactics to an army without supplies, without health, without discipline, without knowledge of those arts and inventions that are of use in war?'"

— In our words · Source: Cyropaedia (Xenophon)

[Use when]

You're hiring or training a manager on technical skill alone.

[Why it matters]

Cambyses quizzes Cyrus on whether his paid instructor covered economy, health, morale or obedience. The answer each time is no. Cambyses runs through supplies, health, discipline and morale, and the teacher covered none of them.

Filed under situations:When the team is looking to you to lead

More from Cyropaedia

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Same situation, different book

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