Indeed, both painters and generals must learn to trust a half‑known future. A brushstroke is a calculated risk; a troop move is a gamble with lives. The difference? A painting ends in applause or a portrait in a museum; a general’s gamble ends with either a campaign remembered in history or a diary page. In either case, the artist or commander must keep the next move in mind, even when the canvas or the field is still a mystery. And remember, a good plan is only as good as the last thing you touch—whether that’s a dab of ultramarine or a night’s march.