History Memes

Explanation: Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus ('Warty', due to a wart on his upper lip) was a leader of the Roman Republic during the Second Punic War. He was granted dictatorial powers by the Republic, but, due to the unpopularity of his strategy of attrition, wearing down Hannibal and the Punic forces bit by bit, he was often disobeyed. They referred to him, derisively, as 'cunctator' ('delayer') instead of 'dictator' ('speaker') because he always delayed what the Roman people felt like should have been an open conflict with Hannibal. Pretty invariably, whenever Fabius's orders to take caution were disobeyed, Hannibal would prove his military skill and crush the Romans who sought an open battle, leading the Romans to ask Fabius to take over again. Fabius would counsel caution, and the cycle would repeat itself...

Eventually, after far more Roman deaths and defeats than were necessary, his wisdom was finally recognized and obeyed, and it was said, turning the once derogatory 'cunctator' into a title of honor, that "One man, by delaying, has saved the Republic".