Feign Madness but Keep Your Balance
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-31
CORE DEFINITION
Rather than acting rashly to show off one's cleverness, it is better to feign ignorance or madness to conceal one's ambitions and wisdom. The core is to hide one's capabilities and bide one's time.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
Protective coloration. When one's wings are not yet fully grown, if one appears too clever or too threatening, one will be eliminated immediately. Playing dumb is the best defensive armor for the weak.
Anchor fast decisions
From the Thirty-Six Stratagems/Art of War: When one's strength is insufficient or the environment is dangerous, deliberately appear foolish or confused to conceal true wisdom and ambition (hiding one's light under a bushel), causing opponents to lower their guard and not view you as a threat, thereby avoiding elimination and secretly building strength. The essence is to 'use a low profile to gain living space and time.'
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/5Practice this model in one real situation:
account_treeGenealogyexpand_more
menu_bookReferencesexpand_more
Source support: Explicit
- baike.baidu.comhttps://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%81%87%E7%97%B4%E4%B8%8D%E7%99%ABverified
PRIVATE NOTES · Only visible to you
SAVED Q&A
ENTRY Q&A · Private saving available
Ask with a clear boundary
thinkingmodels answers from published entry context only.
Your question is sent to thinkingmodels. The answer uses public entry context only.
RELATED MODELS