pitch, if the idea gets abroad that his opponents have troubles of
their own and little leisure for offensive operations.

But over and beyond all that can be written on the subject--
inventiveness is a personal matter, beyond all formulas--the true
general must be able to take in, deceive, decoy, delude his adversary
at every turn, as the particular occasion demands. In fact, there is
no instrument of war more cunning than chicanery;[6] which is not
surprising when one reflects that even little boys, when playing, "How
many (marbles) have I got in my hand?"[7] are able to take one another
in successfully. Out goes a clenched fist, but with such cunning that
he who holds a few is thought to hold several; or he may present
several and appear to be holding only a few. Is it likely that a grown
man, giving his whole mind to methods of chicanery, will fail of
similar inventiveness? Indeed, when one comes to consider what is
meant by advantages snatched in war, one will find, i think, that the
greater part of them, and those the more important, must be attributed
in some way or other to displays of craft;[8] which things being so, a
man had better either not attempt to exercise command, or, as part and
parcel of his general equipment, let him pray to Heaven to enable him
to exercise this faculty and be at pains himself to cultivate his own
inventiveness.

[6] Cf. "Cyrop." IV. ii. 26; VII. i. 18.

[7] {posinda}, lit. "How many?" (i.e. dice, nuts, marbles, etc.); cf.
the old game, "Buck! buck! how many horns do I hold up?" Schneid.
cf. Aristot. "Rhet."iii. 5. 4.

[8] "Have been won in connection with craft." See "Cyrop." I. vi. 32;