caution did not derive chiefly from

频繁性谨慎行事并不能一味归罪于
a temperamental tendency or a character flaw,

个人性情或者性格缺陷
but from thought and calculation.

而是根源于深思熟虑
The main reason he avoided land battles against

他极力避免与斯巴达和伯罗奔尼撒人
their Spartan and Peloponnesian allies is because

在陆上作战的原因是
he was certain to lose; the numbers were decisively against him.

他深知败局已定兵力对决上他必输无疑
Yet, he was more careful

但是比起一般的鲁莽将军
than were bolder generals.

他可是谨慎得多了
No polis in the Greek world was

没有哪个希腊的城邦
prodigal with its citizens in battle,

会在战场上挥霍他们公民的生命
and it behooved the general,

这对于一名合格的将领是理所当然的
especially in a democratic state,

尤其在一个民主城邦