Livy
Livy
Titus Livius—known as Livy /ˈlɪvi/ in English—was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people – Ab Urbe Condita Libri– covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome before the traditional foundation in 753 BC through the reign of Augustus in Livy's own time. He was on familiar terms with the Julio-Claudian dynasty, advising Augustus's grandnephew, the future emperor Claudius, as a young man not long before 14 AD in a letter to...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionHistorian
kings war history
This was the Athenians' war against the King of Macedon, a war of words. Words are the only weapons the Athenians have left.
war
War is just to those to whom war is necessary.
war arms no-hope
...war is just to those for whom it is necessary, and arms are clear of impiety for those who have no hope left but in arms.
war upset irrationality
Nowhere are our calculations more frequently upset than in war.
peace war law
There are laws for peace as well as war.
peace war luck
Luck rules every human endeavor, especially war.
arduous build large surrender
It is easy at any moment to surrender a large fortune; to build one up is a difficult and an arduous task.
men slower
Men are slower to recognize blessings than misfortunes.
neither remedies
We can endure neither our vices nor the remedies for them.
less men outset
They are more than men at the outset of their battles; at the end they are less than the women.
feelings crowds uncertain
Nothing is so uncertain or unpredictable as the feelings of a crowd.
sweet names
The name of freedom regained is sweet to hear.
crime rational
No crime can ever be defended on rational grounds.
flames envy soar
Envy, like flames, soars upwards.