Great Books Ep 2: Dissuade to Persuade: Saying One Thing with the Hope of Getting Another Thing Done

Leaders sometimes say the opposite of what they want to say expecting people to oppose to make it appear that the decision to do a particular thing came from themselves.

Context

The Iliad - Book 2. Jove sends a Lying dream to Agamemnon, saying he could take Troy if he attacks now. Agamemnon wakes up from the dream, happy that he can finally conquer Troy. After meeting with his council of elders at Nestor's ship, he talks to his troops. Instead of telling them that he got a sign from the gods of victory and that they shou…