Wary of invading the Persian empire, king Croesus one day consulted the oracle at Delphi, which replied that if he went to war, he would destroy a great empire.

Thus encouraged, he promptly attacked the Persians -- who proceeded to throttle the Lydians, capture their capital, and throw their leader (ie. Croesus) into prison.

Croesus, undestandably furious, sent a delegation to Delphi demanding to know why the oracle had deceived him.

The oracle's reply? She had hardly deceived him. Croesus had indeed destroyed a great empire: his own.