Josephus is introduced as a Judean captured during rebellion against Rome who later wrote about the Roman military. The familiar English wording takes some translation license: exercises are bloodless battles and battles bloody exercises. Exercises prepare people for war only when they reflect its demands accurately. Their lessons also have to be recorded and retained rather than forgotten once a maneuver ends. Training is an institutional learning system, rather than merely time spent operating ships.
Chapter · 6:38-7:47
Exercises must resemble the war a fleet may fight
A maxim attributed to Josephus frames exercises as bloodless battles whose realism and remembered lessons determine wartime value.