Battle of the Caudine Forks (middle course is not always the best)
- 321 BC
- Samnites
- Romans lured into trap in a mountain pass by Samnites disguised as soldiers
- Gaius Pontius asked father for advice
- 1st order: send Romans on their way unharmed > gain Romans friendship
- 2nd order: kill the Romans to the last man > Rome would be to weak to pose a threat for generations
- NO MIDDLE WAY > would leave Romans looking for revenge
- pass under the yoke > humiliation
JFK saving MLK
Nixon who had been friends with MLK, did not come to his aid when MLK was imprisoned in Georgia. He was afraid to lose the Southern vote. JFK backed his release and MLK decided to support him. Once a friend, MLK now viewed Nixon as a moral coward. JFK won election by 1/2 a percentage point or 35,000 votes across 2 states. Two phone calls had won him the Presidency: to governor of Georgia and MLKs wife Coretta.
Hard times create strong men
Strong men create good times
Good times create weak men
Weak men create hard times
vicious cycle throughout human history
Lawrence of Arabia attacking Aqaba
Take the indirect route to throw your enemies off. The Turkish guns were defending the logically approach from the sea but Lawrence attacked from the land after crossing the impassable Nefud Desert. Nothing is written.
