Those who know how to win are much more numerous than those who know how to make proper use of their victories.

Polybius draws a sharp distinction between tactical success and strategic wisdom. Winning—whether in war, politics, or public life—can be achieved by many through courage, luck, or superior force. Far rarer is the capacity to convert victory into a stable, lasting advantage: to restrain excess, set workable terms, reconcile former enemies, and build institutions that prevent the next conflict. The remark reflects a historian’s interest in causes and consequences rather than battlefield drama, warning that triumph often tempts leaders into overreach. In Polybius’s moral-political framework, the true test of statesmanship is not conquest itself but the disciplined management of power after conquest.