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This quality is exhibited of course by different men under

different circumstances, but in warlike matters, with which we

are now concerned, it is exhibited by the soldiers ("the

regulars"): for there are, it would seem, many things in war of

no real importance[21] which these have been constantly used to

see; so they have a show of Courage because other people are not

aware of the real nature of these things. Then again by reason of

their skill they are better able than any others to inflict

without suffering themselves, because they are able to use their

arms and have such as are most serviceable both with a view to

offence and defence: so that their case is parallel to that of

armed men fighting with unarmed or trained athletes with

amateurs, since in contests of this kind those are the best

fighters, not who are the bravest men, but who are the strongest

and are in the best condition.