Explanation: During the Second Punic War, Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus (‘Warty’, for a wart on his face) was appointed dictator by the Roman Republic in order to defend it against the brilliant Carthaginian (‘Punic’) general Hannibal.
Fabius chose a strategy of… not fighting. This was actually quite brilliant - by refusing to fight on Hannibal’s terms, Fabius prevented Hannibal from gaining new victories, and exhausted Hannibal’s ability to supply his army. Fabius only offered combat on his own terms - which Hannibal, wisely, never accepted. However, the Roman people were frustrated and angered by Fabius’s lack of aggression to AVENGE ROMAN HONOR, and showered him with scorn, including the title of ‘Cunctator’ instead of ‘Dictator’ (‘Delayer’ instead of ‘Speaker’).
After countermanding Fabius’s dictatorial authority several times, and getting several defeats for their trouble, the Roman people finally reconciled themselves to the wisdom of Fabius’s strategy. Scorn turned to praise and contrition, and it was said, by the end of the Second Punic War, reversing the disdain in the mock title of ‘Cunctator’, that “One man, by delaying, has saved the Republic.”
Adding to this Wikipedia has a whole article listing times people have been inspired by Fabian strategies!
The most noted use of Fabian strategy in American history was by George Washington, sometimes called the “American Fabius” for his use of the strategy during the first year of the American Revolutionary War. While Washington had initially pushed for traditional direct engagements using battle lines, he was convinced of the merits of using his army to harass the British rather than engage them, both by the urging of his generals in his councils of war, and by the pitched-battle disasters of 1776, especially the Battle of Long Island. In addition, given his background as a colonial officer who had participated in asymmetric campaigns against Native Americans, Washington predicted that this style would aid in defeating the traditional tactics of the British Army (his predictions were proven correct).[18] John Adams’ dissatisfaction with Washington’s conduct of the war led him to declare, “I am sick of Fabian systems in all quarters.”
Explanation: During the Second Punic War, Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus (‘Warty’, for a wart on his face) was appointed dictator by the Roman Republic in order to defend it against the brilliant Carthaginian (‘Punic’) general Hannibal.
Fabius chose a strategy of… not fighting. This was actually quite brilliant - by refusing to fight on Hannibal’s terms, Fabius prevented Hannibal from gaining new victories, and exhausted Hannibal’s ability to supply his army. Fabius only offered combat on his own terms - which Hannibal, wisely, never accepted. However, the Roman people were frustrated and angered by Fabius’s lack of aggression to AVENGE ROMAN HONOR, and showered him with scorn, including the title of ‘Cunctator’ instead of ‘Dictator’ (‘Delayer’ instead of ‘Speaker’).
After countermanding Fabius’s dictatorial authority several times, and getting several defeats for their trouble, the Roman people finally reconciled themselves to the wisdom of Fabius’s strategy. Scorn turned to praise and contrition, and it was said, by the end of the Second Punic War, reversing the disdain in the mock title of ‘Cunctator’, that “One man, by delaying, has saved the Republic.”
Adding to this Wikipedia has a whole article listing times people have been inspired by Fabian strategies!
Almost a hit in english, if it were Cuntcator
cucktator