Athena vs. Ares
Two opposing models for how to approach conflict and competition.
Ares represents brute force, direct aggression, and emotional warfare. Ares figures are loud, intimidating, and seemingly powerful, but actually quite stupid and easily misled. They exhaust themselves in battle, make enemies everywhere, and ultimately self-destruct.
Athena represents intelligence, cunning, and strategic patience. Athena figures study their opponents, maneuver indirectly, and win with minimum bloodshed. They conserve energy for decisive moments and turn opponents’ aggression against them.
“Your interest in war is not the violence, the brutality, the waste of lives and resources, but the rationality and pragmatism it forces on us and the ideal of winning without bloodshed.”
In Greek mythology, the gods actively despised Ares despite his raw power. Athena, blessed with “the craftiness of Metis and the warrior mentality of Zeus,” was worshipped as the goddess of strategic warfare. Her mortal avatar was Odysseus, whose cunning repeatedly triumphed over brute force.
The practical application: when facing aggressive opponents, don’t meet force with force. Use Athena’s wisdom to turn their violence and aggression against them, making their brutality the cause of their downfall.
Related: 07-atom—jujitsu-principle, 04-atom—economy-of-force