On Probability ( - 300 AD)

"The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.” (Sun Tzu, “The Art of War”, 5th century BC)

“No human being will ever know the Truth, for even if they happen to say it by chance, they would not even known they had done so.” (Xenophanes, 5th century BC)

“God's dice always have a lucky roll.” (Sophocles, 5th century BC)

“Nothing occurs at random, but everything for a reason and by necessity” (Leucippus, 5th century BC)

“Everything existing in the universe is the fruit of chance.” (Democritus, 4th century BC)

“For that which is probable is that which generally happens.” (Aristotle, “The Art of Rhetoric”, 4th century BC)

“I know too well that these arguments from probabilities are imposters, and unless great caution is observed in the use of them, they are apt to be deceptive.” (Plato,” Phaedo” [On the Soul], 4th century BC)

“All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire.” (Aristotle, 4th century BC)

“If in a discussion of many matters […] we are not able to give perfectly exact and self-consistent accounts, do not be surprised: rather we would be content if we provide accounts that are second to none in probability.” (Plato, “Timaeus”, cca. 360 BC)

“A likely impossibility is always preferable to an unconvincing possibility. The story should never be made up of improbable incidents; there should be nothing of the sort in it.” (Aristotle, “Poetics”, cca. 335 BC)

 “How often things occur by the mearest chance.” (Terence, “Phormio”, 2nd century BC)

“Suam habet fortuna rationem.’
“Chance has its reasons.” (Gaius Petronius, “Satryicon liber” [“The Book of Satyrlike Adventures”], 1st century BC)

"Probability is the very guide of life." (Cicero, “De Natura Deorum” [“On the Nature of the Gods”], 45 BC)

“Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards.” (Cornelius Tacitus, cca. 69-100 AD)