Perseverance
is more prevailing than violence
A story on SERTORIUS by
Plutarch
When now all the cities on this
side of the river Ebro also united their forces together under his
command, his army grew great, for they flocked together and flowed in
upon him from all quarters. But when they continually cried out to
attack the enemy, and were impatient of delay, their inexperienced,
disorderly rashness caused Sertorius much trouble, who at first
strove to restrain them with reason and good counsel; but when he
perceived them refractory and unseasonably violent, he gave way to
their impetuous desires, and permitted them to engage with the enemy,
in such sort that they might, being repulsed, yet not totally routed
become more obedient to his commands for the future. Which happening
as he had anticipated, he soon rescued them, and brought them safe
into his camp.
After a few days, being willing
to encourage them again, when he had called all his army together, he
caused two horses to be brought into the field, one old, feeble, lean
animal the other a lusty, strong horse, with a remarkably thick and
long tail. Near the lean one he placed a tall, strong man, and near
the strong young horse a weak, despicable-looking fellow; and at a
sign given, the strong man took hold of the weak horse's tail with
both his hands, and drew it to him with his whole force, as if he
would pull it off; the other, the weak man, in the meantime, set to
work to pluck off hair by hair from the great horse's tail. When the
strong man had given trouble enough to himself in vain, and
sufficient diversion to the company, and had abandoned his attempt,
whilst the weak, pitiful fellow in a short time and with little pains
had left not a hair on the great horse's tail,
Sertorius rose up and spoke to his
army. "You see, fellow-soldiers, that perseverance is more
prevailing than violence, and that many things which cannot be
overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken
little by little. Assiduity and persistence are irresistible, and in
time overthrow and destroy the greatest powers whatever. Time being
the favorable friend and assistant of those who use their judgment to
await his occasions, and the destructive enemy of those who are
unreasonably urging and pressing forward."
With
a frequent use of such words and such devices, he soothed the
fierceness of the barbarous people, and taught them to attend and
watch for their opportunities.
War
or Business or life the above would apply as apt.Patience could also be an Armour of good sense against tides of trouble when you don't know which side the enemy resides.
