<head>The Character of Hannibal</head>Of all that befel both nations, Romans and Carthaginians, the cause was one man and one mind — Hannibal.
It was he indisputably who had the management of the Italian campaign, and he also directed that in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a> through his elder brother Hasdrubal and afterwards through Mago,
these being the generals who killed the two Roman commanders in that country.
Besides this he managed affairs in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>, first of all through Hippocrates and subsequently through Myttonus the African, and he was likewise active in Greece and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Illyria&groupId=647&placeId=1186">Illyria</a>, threatening the Romans from these parts and keeping them alarmed and distracted by his understanding with Philip.
Such a great and wonderful product of nature is a man with a mind properly fitted by its original constitution to execute any project within human power.
But since the course of affairs has called our attention to the character of Hannibal, I think I am called upon at present to state my opinion regarding those peculiar traits in it which are the subject of most dispute.
For some accuse him of excessive cruelty and others of avarice. Now it is no easy thing to state the truth about him or in general about men who are engaged in public affairs.
For some say that men's real natures are revealed by circumstances, the truth being in the case of some brought to light by possession of power, even if they have hitherto managed to disguise it entirely, and in that of others by misfortune.
But I cannot myself regard this view as sound. For it appears to me that not in a few cases only but in most cases men are compelled to act and speak contrary to their real principles by the complexity of facts and by the suggestions of their friends.
Walbank Commentary