Idea Ripper // ArchiveCards: 1555 [Live] | Updated: 2026-10-14
Card #c1156IR // #c1156Synthesis

"it seems to me a grievous error in a ruler to quarrel with all his subjects at once. Widespread terror must needs be followed by widespread hate: anger with all creates unity among all."

— In our words · Source: Cyropaedia (Xenophon)

[Use when]

A whole team let you down and you're about to come down on all of them together.

[Why it matters]

Cyaxares was furious that his Medes had followed Cyrus. Cyrus's answer is that collective punishment unites the punished against the one doing the punishing.

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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