man never changes his plans while the conditions under which he
formed them remain the same; therefore, he never feels regret,
because at the time nothing better than what he did could have been
done, nor could any better decision have been arrived at than that
which was made; yet he begins everything with the saving clause,
"If nothing shall occur to the contrary." This is the reason why we
say that all goes well with him, and that nothing happens contrary
to his expectation, because he bears in mind the possibility of
something happening to prevent the realization of his projects. It
is an imprudent confidence to trust that fortune will be on our
side. The wise man considers both sides: he knows how great is the
power of errors, how uncertain human affairs are, how many
obstacles there are to the success of plans. Without committing
himself, he awaits the doubtful and capricious issue of events, and
weighs certainty of purpose against uncertainty of result. Here
also, however, he is protected by that saving clause, without which
he decides upon nothing, and begins nothing.

XXXV. When I promise to bestow a benefit, I promise it, unless
something occurs which makes it my duty not to do so. What if, for
example, my country orders me to give to her what I had promised to
my friend? or if a law be passed forbidding any one to do what I
had promised to do for him? Suppose that I have promised you my
daughter in marriage, that then you turn out to be a foreigner, and
that I have no right of intermarriage with foreigners; in this
case, the law, by which I am forbidden to fulfil my promise, forms
my defence. I shall be treacherous, and hear myself blamed for
inconsistency, only if I do not fulfil, my promise when all
conditions remain the same as when I made it; otherwise, any change
makes me free to reconsider the entire case, and absolves me from