So when enemy missiles were hunting you down, the ancient aphorism about a best defense was decidedly true.

After ten standard months I was done, acknowledging the ancient aphorism to the effect that no book or poem is ever finished, merely abandoned.

"And an unfired arrow becomes brittle with disuse," Gault said, completing the ancient aphorism.

"He who would rule well," runs an ancient aphorism, "must rule with a slack hand."