Explanation: The Roman leader Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus (Verrucosus means ‘warty’, in reference to the wart on his lip) was an elder statesman of the Roman Republic during the Second Punic War. After his advice regarding the Carthaginian general Hannibal had been ignored several times, and disastrously so, the Roman people appointed him dictator to direct the war. He proceeded to do… nothing. By starving Hannibal of new foes and easy victories, Fabius would chip at the cohesion of Hannibal’s mercenary army, denying them food and loot by occupying strategic locations, but not offering battle. This was greatly displeasing to the Roman people, who craved the psychological relief of a stunning victory against the Carthaginian general Hannibal, and so they gave him the derogatory nickname ‘Cunctator’ instead of ‘Dictator’ - ‘Delayer’ instead of ‘Speaker’.

However, after a few more ill-advised attempts from foolhardy Roman commanders, the people eventually saw the wisdom of his position - that of a truly strategic view of war, not merely tactical - and the nickname ‘Cunctator’ became instead a title of honor. “One man, by delaying, saved the Republic.” Sometimes doing nothing is the best thing you can do!