People of intelligence ought not to think that they have exact knowledge of what the result will be, but to be minded towards these contingencies as men who indeed exercise their best judgement, but are not sure what the future may hold in store. Isocrates. On the Peace. Speech 8. Section 8.
Image: The battle of Gergovia where Gauls led by Vercingetorix outmaneuvered proconsul Gaius Julius Caesar and drove off the Roman legions from their hilltop fortress courtesy of learning-history.com.
At Gergovia, Caesar attempted to feign an attack, then intended to feign a retreat to draw the Gauls away from the hilltop fortress and crush them in the open where Roman formation fighting could be decisive. Unfortunately, Caesar's men succeeded so well in the initial assault that they kept advancing and ignored or did not hear the signal to retreat. Then the Gauls counterattacked and Caesar had to signal a real retreat to preserve his forces. So, Isocrates is warning us to always be mindful of contingencies because often things don't go as planned.
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