Herodotus
Herodotus
Herodotuswas a Greek historian who was born in Halicarnassus, Cariaand lived in the fifth century BC, a contemporary of Socrates. He is widely referred to as "The Father of History"; he was the first historian known to have broken from Homeric tradition to treat historical subjects as a method of investigation—specifically, by collecting his materials systematically and critically, and then arranging them into a historiographic narrative. The Histories is the only work which he is known to have produced, a record...
NationalityGreek
ProfessionHistorian
powerful greatness islands
The Andrians were the first of the islanders to refuse Themistocles' demand for money. He had put it to them that they would be unable to avoid paying, because the Athenians had the support of two powerful deities, one called Persuasion and the other Compulsion.The Andrians had replied that Athens was lucky to have two such useful gods, who were obviously responsible for her wealth and greatness; unfortunately, they themselves, in their small & inadequate land, had two utterly useless deities, who refused to leave the island and insisted on staying; and their names were Poverty and Inability.
greatness lows surpassing
It is the gods' custom to bring low all things of surpassing greatness.
injured man
A man calumniated is doubly injured - first by him who utters the calumny, and then by him who believes it.
great jealous success
But I like not these great success of yours; for I know how jealous are the gods.
country good human provide single
It's impossible for someone who is human to have all good things together, just as there is no single country able to provide all good things for itself.
knowledge people
Knowledge may give weight, but accomplishments give lustre, and many more people see than weigh.
anticipate boldness cowardly evils fear half might noble remain run subject
It is better by noble boldness to run the risk of being subject to half the evils we anticipate than to remain in cowardly listlessness for fear of what might happen.
evil good
The only good is knowledge, and the only evil is ignorance.
death delightful weary
Death is a delightful hiding place for weary men.
bolts god greater greatest houses tallest whatever
Do you see how the god always hurls his bolts at the greatest houses and the tallest trees. For he is wont to thwart whatever is greater than the rest.
bury fathers peace war
In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons.
gods greater love punish
The gods love to punish whatever is greater than the rest.
miseries
Of all men's miseries the bitterest is this: to know so much and to have control over nothing.
man
The destiny of man is in his own soul.