Noun
An artifice or trick in war for deceiving the enemy; hence, in general, artifice; deceptive device; secret plot; evil machination.
Source: Webster's dictionaryOne way of looking at speech is to say it is a constant stratagem to cover nakedness. Harold Pinter
Never fight with Russian. On your every stratagem they answer unpredictable stupidity. Otto von Bismarck
For her own breakfast she'll project a scheme, Nor take her tea without a stratagem. Edward Young
To read of a detective's daring finesse or ingenious stratagem is a rare joy. Rex Stout
The Marxians love of democratic institutions was a stratagem only, a pious fraud for the deception of the masses. Within a socialist community there is no room left for freedom. Ludwig von Mises
Let the sword decide after the stratagem has failed. Arabic Proverb