That he might be enabled to complete this conquest undisturbed and might not be obliged to take in hand just at once the extrication of Italian affairs, he unhesitatingly gave up his superiority over his rivals and granted to Pompeius sufficient power to settle matters with the senate and its adherents.
This was a grave political blunder, if Caesar had no other object than to become as quickly as possible king of Rome; but the ambition of that rare man was not confined to the vulgar aim of a crown.
He had the boldness to prosecute side by side, and to complete, two labours equally vast--the arranging of the internal affairs of Italy, and the acquisition and securing of a new and fresh soil for Italian civilization.

These tasks of course interfered with each other; his Gallic conquests hindered much more than helped him on his way to the throne.

It was fraught to him with bitter fruit that, instead of settling the Italian revolution in 698, he postponed it to 706.

But as a statesman as well as a general Caesar was a peculiarly daring player, who, confiding in himself and despising his opponents, gave them always great and sometimes extravagant odds.
The Aristocracy Submits It was now therefore the turn of the aristocracy to make good their high gage, and to wage war as boldly as they had boldly declared it.

But there is no more pitiable spectacle than when cowardly men have the misfortune to take a bold resolution.
They had simply exercised no foresight at all.