The 36 Strategies: #9: Watch the fire from the opposite band of the river

Next to the Art of War by Sun Tzu, the 36 Strategies is the most famous compliation in the study of strategy in Asia. It would be wise to have an understanding of these strategies, just so you might be able to recognise when someone is attempting to use them on you!

#9. Watch the fire from the opposite band of the river

You calmly look on when adversaries experience internal troubles, waiting for them to destroy themselves.

We really are our own worst enemies. If we can patiently wait, and not make our own mistakes, we can almost certainly count on our opponents to make theirs. Very often a conflict is resolved in favor to the side that makes the next to the last mistake.