- Source
- Polybius. Vols. 1-4. Büttner-Wobst, Theodor, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1893.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:3.81.1-3.81.12
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-11
Hannibal explains the critical importance of understanding the nature and psychological weaknesses of an enemy leader, using analogies of combat athletes and a ship's helmsman. He asserts that this strategic calculation was key to his success against Flaminius.
ἐμφρόνως ἐλογίζετο ταῦτα καὶ πραγματικῶς· οὐ γὰρ εἰκὸς ἄλλως εἰπεῖν, ὡς εἴ τις οἴεται κυριώτερόν τι μέρος εἶναι στρατηγίας τοῦ γνῶναι1 τὴν προαίρεσιν καὶ φύσιν τοῦ τῶν ἐναντίων ἡγεμόνος, ἀγνοεῖ καὶ τετύφωται.
He calculated these things wisely and practically; for it is not reasonable to say otherwise than that if anyone thinks there is any more decisive part of generalship than knowing the purpose and nature of the enemy’s leader, he is ignorant and blinded.
καθάπερ γὰρ ἐπὶ τῶν κατʼ ἄνδρα καὶ ζυγὸν ἀγωνισμάτων δεῖ τὸν μέλλοντα νικᾶν συνθεωρεῖν πῶς δυνατὸν ἐφικέσθαι τοῦ σκοποῦ καὶ τί γυμνὸν ἢ ποῖον ἔξοπλον2 μέρος φαίνεται τῶν ἀνταγωνιστῶν, οὕτως χρὴ καὶ τοὺς ὑπὲρ τῶν ὅλων προεστῶτας σκοπεῖν οὐχ ὅπου τι τοῦ σώματος γυμνόν, ἀλλὰ ποῦ τῆς ψυχῆς εὐχείρωτόν τι παραφαίνεται τοῦ τῶν ἐναντίων ἡγεμόνος, ἐπειδὴ πολλοὶ μὲν διὰ ῥᾳθυμίαν καὶ τὴν σύμπασαν ἀργίαν οὐ μόνον τὰς κοινὰς πράξεις, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς ἰδίους καταπροΐενται βίους ἄρδην, πολλοὶ δὲ διὰ τὴν πρὸς τὸν οἶνον ἐπιθυμίαν οὐδʼ ὑπνῶσαι δύνανται χωρὶς ἀλλοιώσεως καὶ μέθης, ἔνιοι δὲ διὰ τὰς τῶν ἀφροδισίων ὁρμὰς καὶ τὴν ἐν τούτοις ἔκπληξιν οὐ μόνον πόλεις καὶ βίους ἀναστάτους πεποιήκασιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ ζῆν αὑτῶν ἀφῄρηνται μετʼ αἰσχύνης.
For just as in individual and single combats, he who intends to conquer must observe how it is possible to reach his mark, and what part of his opponents appears bare or what part is poorly protected by armor, so those who are in charge of the whole state of affairs must examine not where some part of the body is bare, but where some vulnerable spot in the soul of the enemy’s leader shows itself; since many, through slackness and general laziness, utterly ruin not only public affairs but also their own private lives, and many, through their desire for wine, cannot even sleep without alteration and drunkenness, and some, through sexual impulses and the madness associated with them, have not only overthrown cities and lives, but have also been deprived of their own lives with disgrace.
καὶ μὴν δειλία καὶ βλακεία κατʼ ἰδίαν μὲν αὐτοῖς ὄνειδος ἐπιφέρει τοῖς ἔχουσι, περὶ δὲ τὸν τῶν ὅλων ἡγεμόνα γενομένη κοινόν ἐστι καὶ μέγιστον συμπτωμάτων.
Moreover, cowardice and sluggishness bring disgrace upon those who possess them individually, but when they affect the leader of the whole, they constitute a public and greatest of disasters.
οὐ γὰρ μόνον ἀπράκτους ποιεῖ τοὺς ὑποταττομένους, πολλάκις δὲ καὶ κινδύνους ἐπιφέρει τοὺς μεγίστους τοῖς πεπιστευκόσι.
For they not only render subordinates inactive, but also frequently bring the greatest dangers upon those who have trusted them.
προπέτειά γε μὴν καὶ θρασύτης καὶ θυμὸς ἄλογος, ἔτι δὲ κενοδοξία καὶ τῦφος εὐχείρωτα μὲν τοῖς ἐχθροῖς, ἐπισφαλέστατα δὲ τοῖς φίλοις. πρὸς γὰρ πᾶσαν ἐπιβουλήν, ἐνέδραν, ἀπάτην ἕτοιμος ὅ γε τοιοῦτος.
Furthermore, precipitancy, rashness, irrational anger, and also vanity and conceit are easy to conquer for enemies, but most dangerous for friends; for such a person is ready for every plot, ambush, and deceit.
διόπερ εἴ τις δύναιτο συννοεῖν τὰ περὶ τοὺς πέλας ἁμαρτήματα καὶ τῇδέ που προσιέναι τοῖς ὑπεναντίοις, ᾗ μάλιστα καὶ διʼ ὧν εὐχείρωτος ἔσθʼ ὁ προεστὼς τῶν πολεμίων, τάχιστʼ ἂν τῶν ὅλων κατακρατοίη. καθάπερ γὰρ νεὼς ἐὰν ἀφέλῃ τις τὸν κυβερνήτην, τὸ ὅλον αὐτανδρὶ3 σκάφος ὑποχείριον γίνεται τοῖς ἐχθροῖς, τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον ἐὰν τὸν προεστῶτα [πόλεμον] δυνάμεως χειρώσηταί τις κατὰ τὰς ἐπιβολὰς καὶ συλλογισμούς,4 αὐτανδρὶ γίνεται πολλάκις κρατεῖν τῶν ἀντιταττομένων.
Therefore, if anyone could understand the errors of his neighbors and approach the opponents in that very quarter where and through which the leader of the enemy is most vulnerable, he would very quickly master the whole. For just as if one takes away the helmsman from a ship, the whole vessel, crew and all, becomes subject to the enemy, in the same way, if one overcomes the leader of a force by means of plans and calculations, it is often possible to master the opposing forces, crew and all.
ἃ δὴ καὶ τότε προϊδόμενος καὶ συλλογισάμενος Ἀννίβας περὶ τοῦ τῶν ἐναντίων ἡγεμόνος οὐ διεσφάλη τῆς ἐπιβολῆς.
Foreseeing and calculating indeed these very things at that time concerning the enemy’s leader, Hannibal did not fail in his undertaking.
- 3.81.1τοῦ γνῶναι
The articular infinitive τοῦ γνῶναι in the genitive case, functioning as a genitive of comparison dependent on the comparative adjective κυριώτερον ("than knowing...").
- 3.81.2ἔξοπλον
The neuter nominalized form of the adjective ἔξοπλος (insufficiently armed, lacking proper armor). Here it refers to a part of the opponent's body that is not fully protected by armor and is thus vulnerable to attack.
- 3.81.11αὐτανδρὶ
An adverbial dative meaning "with all its men" (including the crew). While traditionally used of capturing ships (αὐτανδρὶ σκάφος), Polybius here extends the usage to the defeat of an opposing army (κρατεῖν τῶν ἀντιταττομένων) in parallel.
- 3.81.11καὰ τὰς ἐπιβολὰς καὶ συλλογισμούς
Interpreted as "by means of one's own plans and calculations (or reasoning)". It highlights how intellectual operations of a commander, rather than direct physical force, can overcome the opposing leader.