When Hannibal (of Carthage) was finally captured by Scipio (of Rome) in 202 BC, the Roman General Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus asked with pride who Hannibal now thought was the greatest general of all time (Scipio considered Hannibal the greatest General, and assumed after having just defeated him, that Hannibal would declare Scipio the greatest General of all time.)
But much to his surprise...
Hannibal responded, Alexander the Great is the greatest General of all time, followed by Pyrrhus of Epirus a closed second, and Hannibal stated firmly that he considered himself third.
With indignation, Scipio responded, "If I have just defeated you, then where does that leave me??"
Hannibal responded, "Ah, but if you had not defeated me, I would have went down in history as first and not third."
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