Thucydides Quotes - Page 5

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What made the war inevitable was the growth of Athenian power and the fear which this caused in Sparta.

Thucydides

War, History, Growth

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The Thracian people, like the bloodiest of the barbarians, being ever most murderous when it has nothing to fear.

Thucydides

People, Barbarians

"History of the Peloponnesian War". Book by Thucydides, translated by Richard Crawely Book VII, 7.29-[4],

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For we both alike know that into the discussion of human affairs the question of justice enters only where the pressure of necessity is equal, and that the powerful exact what they can, and the weak grant what they must.

Thucydides

Powerful, Justice, Pressure

Thucydides (1881). “Thucydides Translated Into English”

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Hatred also is short lived; but that which makes the splendor of the present and the glory of the future remains forever unforgotten
here we bless your simplicity but do not envy your folly.

Thucydides

Envy, Simplicity, Hatred

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Abstinence from all injustice to other first-rate powers is a greater tower of strength than anything that can be gained by the sacrifice of permanent tranquillity for an apparent temporary advantage.

Thucydides

Sacrifice, Towers, Firsts

Thucydides, Victor Davis Hanson, Robert B. Strassler (2008). “The Landmark Thucydides”, p.27, Simon and Schuster

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The wide difference between the two characters, the slowness and want of energy of the Spartans as contrasted with the dash and enterprise of their opponents, proved of the greatest service, especially to a maritime empire like Athens. Indeed this was shown by the Syracusans, who were most like the Athenians in character, and also most successful in combating them.

Thucydides

Character, Successful, Two

Thucydides (1978). “The history of the Peloponnesian War: illustrated with maps from the 1820 Oxford edition”

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For men can endure to hear others praised only so long as they can severally persuade themselves of their own ability to equal the actions recounted: when this point is passed, envy comes in and with it incredulity.

Thucydides

Men, Envy, Long

Thucydides, Victor Davis Hanson, Robert B. Strassler (2008). “The Landmark Thucydides”, p.111, Simon and Schuster

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Wealth to us is not mere material for vainglory but an opportunity for achievement; and poverty we think it no disgrace to acknowledge but a real degredation to make no effort to overcome.

Thucydides

Real, Thinking, Opportunity

Thucydides, Sir Richard Winn Livingstone (1960). “The History of the Peloponnesian War”, Oxford University Press, USA

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concessions to adversaries only end in self reproach, and the more strictly they are avoided the greater will be the chance of security.

Thucydides

Self, Chance, Ends

Thucydides, Victor Davis Hanson, Robert B. Strassler (2008). “The Landmark Thucydides”, p.23, Simon and Schuster

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In peace and prosperity states and individuals have better sentiments, because they do not find themselves suddenly confronted with imperious necessities; but war takes away the easy supply of daily wants and so proves a rough master that brings most men's characters to a level with their fortunes

Thucydides

War, Character, Men

Thucydides (1965). “History of the Peloponnesian War”, p.161, Hayes Barton Press

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The superior gratification derived from the use and contemplation of costly and supposedly beautiful products is, commonly, in great measure a gratification of our sense of costliness masquerading under the name of beauty.

Thucydides

Beautiful, Names, Use

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On the whole, however, the conclusions I have drawn from the proofs quoted may, I believe, safely be relied on. Assuredly they will not be disturbed either by the lays of a poet displaying the exaggeration of his craft, or by the compositions of the chroniclers that are attractive at truth's expense; the subjects they treat of being out of the reach of evidence, and time having robbed most of them of historical value by enthroning them in the region of legend.

Thucydides

Believe, Historical Value, Crafts

Thucydides, Ruth Finnegan “History of Greece”, Lulu.com

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I have often before now been convinced that a democracy is incapable of empire.

Thucydides

Democracy, Empires, Incapable

Thucydides, Victor Davis Hanson, Robert B. Strassler (2008). “The Landmark Thucydides”, p.176, Simon and Schuster

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...knowing the secret of happiness to be freedom, and the secret of freedom a brave heart, not idly to stand aside from the enemy's onset.

Thucydides

Heart, Knowing, Brave

Thucydides, Sir Richard Winn Livingstone (1960). “The History of the Peloponnesian War”, Oxford University Press, USA

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You can now, if you choose, employ your present success to advantage, so as to keep what you have got and gain honour and reputation besides, and you can avoid the mistake of those who meet with an extraordinary piece of good fortune, and are led on by hope to grasp continually at something further, through having already succeeded without expecting it.

Thucydides

Mistake, Pieces, Gains

Thucydides, Ruth Finnegan “History of Greece”, Lulu.com

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As for democracy, the men of sense among us knew what it was, and I perhaps as well as any, as I have more cause to complain of it; but there is nothing new to be said of a patent absurdity-meanwhile we did not think it safe to alter it under the pressure of your hostility.

Thucydides

Men, Thinking, Democracy

Thucydides, Victor Davis Hanson, Robert B. Strassler (2008). “The Landmark Thucydides”, p.413, Simon and Schuster

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Men do not rest content with parrying the attacks of a superior, but often strike the first blow to prevent the attack being made.

Thucydides

Blow, Men, Firsts

Thucydides, Ruth Finnegan “History of Greece”, Lulu.com

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But the prize for courage will surely be awarded most justly to those who best know the difference between hardship and pleasure and yet are never tempted to shrink from danger.

Thucydides

Differences, Hardship, Pleasure

Thucydides, Victor Davis Hanson, Robert B. Strassler (2008). “The Landmark Thucydides”, p.114, Simon and Schuster

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By day certainly the combatants have a clearer notion, though even then by no means of all that takes place, no one knowing much of anything that does not does not go on in his own immediate neighborhood; but in a night engagement ( and this was the only one that occurred between great armies during the war) how could anyone know anything for certain?

Thucydides

War, Mean, Army

Thucydides, Victor Davis Hanson, Robert B. Strassler (2008). “The Landmark Thucydides”, p.453, Simon and Schuster

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Men's indignation, it seems, is more exited by legal wrong than by violent wrong; the first looks like being cheated by an equal, the second like being compelled by a superior.

Thucydides

Men, Looks, Firsts

Thucydides (1965). “History of the Peloponnesian War”, p.38, Hayes Barton Press

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Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just contempt of an enemy can alone arise in those who feel that they are superior to their opponent by the prudence of their measures.

Thucydides

Successful, Enemy, Coward

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Of the gods we believe, and of men we know, that by a necessary law of their nature they rule wherever they can.

Thucydides

Believe, Men, Law

Thucydides, Ruth Finnegan “History of Greece”, Lulu.com

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Again, in our enterprises we present the singular spectacle of daring and deliberation, each carried to its highest point, and both united in the same persons; although usually decision is the fruit of ignorance, hesitation of reflection. But the palm of courage will surely be adjudged most justly to those, who best know the difference between hardship and pleasure and yet are never tempted to shrink from danger. In generosity we are equally singular, acquiring our friends by conferring, not by receiving, favours.

Thucydides

Ignorance, Reflection, Differences

Thucydides, Ruth Finnegan “History of Greece”, Lulu.com

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In generosity we are equally singular, acquiring our friends by conferring, not by receiving, favours.

Thucydides

Generosity, Receiving, Favour

Thucydides, Ruth Finnegan “History of Greece”, Lulu.com

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In a word I claim that our city as a whole is an education to Greece.

Thucydides

Education, Cities, Claims

Thucydides, Sir Richard Winn Livingstone (1960). “The History of the Peloponnesian War”, Oxford University Press, USA

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Born: 460 BC
Died: 395 BC
Occupation: Historian
Cite this Page: Citation

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