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[11]
Now, the steps to be taken by way of preparation and the mistakes to be guarded against,
and the measures by which one might, as human calculations go, most likely succeed, have
been, for practical purposes, stated by me; but how to oversee our business from day to
day and how to deal rightly with situations that arise unexpectedly,
[12]
how to know the right moment for each action and to judge which of our
objectives it is possible to attain through negotiation1 and which requires force in addition, these are the
responsibility of the generals in charge. Therefore to give advice is to be in a very
difficult position, because decisions that have been rightly taken and weighed with great
care and pains are often spoiled through faulty execution on the part of those in
authority.
[13]
Yet I hope that all will be well this time;
for if any man has assumed that Alexander was fortunate because he always succeeded,2 let him reflect upon
the fact that it was by doing and toiling and daring, not by sitting still, that he
continued to be fortunate. Now, therefore, since Alexander is dead, Fortune is seeking
some people with whom to co-operate, and you ought to become her choice.
[14]
As for your leaders, through whom your interests must necessarily be
handled, place at the head of your forces men whose loyalty is the greatest available, and
as for yourselves, let every man of you repeat to himself a solemn promise to perform
whatever he in particular shall be able and shall elect to do. And see to it that he does
not break this pledge or shirk his responsibility, saying that he was deceived or misled
and overpersuaded,
[15]
because you will never find others to
make good the lack of those qualities in which you yourselves shall fall short; neither
does it involve the same danger to change your minds often about matters wherein it will
be in your power to do as you please as it does about matters over which war will arise;
but in the case of the latter a change of mind means defeat of your purpose. So do nothing
of this kind, but whatever you intend to execute honestly and promptly with your whole
souls, vote for that,
[16]
and once you have passed a decree,
adopt as your leaders Zeus of Dodona and the
rest of the gods, who have uttered in your interest many splendid, encouraging and true
oracles, and summon them to your aid and after you have prayed to all of them for success
with a vow of the fruits of victory,3
with good fortune attending you, proceed to liberate the Greeks. Farewell.