With his charisma, martial and political skills Pericles managed to secure reelection to the office of strategos on an annual basis. For more than twenty years Pericles would lead a multitude of martial expeditions, most of them seas based, to extend and safeguard Athenian interests. Much of his success at battle came from his cautious nature. Pericles endeavored to avoid battles that he considered to a favorable outcome but the chance of failure too high, too risky, and too uncertain. He also refused to be swapped up by the citizens’ vain desires. An example of Pericles’s cautiousness is his choice of military policy. He decided to play to Athens’ strengths be was based upon the principle that Athens' predominance depends upon having the