The Art of Cunning

There are times in life when you need something, but aren't able to get it by charm or main force - when you must resort to "sneakiness". Today I came across one of those times. This method of obtaining results is often viewed as dishonourable; sneaky (I saw you cringe) is not a nice word. Very well, I don't really like it either. Let's call it cunning. Our distaste for this (whatever you wish to call it) comes, I believe, from a culture where it has long been customary to blatantly take whatever it is you want. We are but lately "civilised". But, you mean you think we should manipulate people? Erm - yes. When necessary. The question that should be asked is not Should I excercise cunning to achieve a goal? but rather Am I being selfish in the execution of my plan? That's a much more pertinent and easily answered question. Is there anything cowardly, in itself, about using ones intellect to the fullest extent? Of course not. But people still think like the ancient Greeks who scorned the art of archery, because it offered a ranged form of combat. The method is not that important - it's the intent that counts. It's only prudent to use every weapon that we've been gifted with. Wisdom is required of course, especially as the paths of the mind are not so plain as bodily action, but that's no reason to shun cunning. It has raised great men and established great empires. Rome had seige engines, yes, and the tortoise and the ala, but these were merely the tools, not the guiding hands. It was cunning that played foe against foe, retreated when something could be gained by it in the future, and offered peace (at a price) to disadvantaged enemies. No, there is no shame in that. Use arrows, liberally - only be careful, as always, who you shoot them for.