Discourses on Livy

That where ordinary methods fail, hardihood and daring often succeed.

When attacked by the Romans, the Samnites as they could not without help stand against them in the field, resolved to leave garrisons in the towns of Samnium, and to pass with their main army into Etruria, that country being then at truce with Rome, and thus ascertain whether their actual presence in arms might not move the Etruscans to renew hostilities against Rome, which they had refused to renew when invited through envoys. During the negotiations which, on this occasion, passed between the two nations, the Samnites in explaining the chief causes that led them to take up arms, used the memorable words -- "they had risen because peace is a heavier burden for slaves than war for freemen. " In the end, partly by their persuasions, and partly by the presence of their army, they induced the Etruscans to join forces with them.