Thucydides
Thucydides
Thucydideswas an Athenian historian and general. His History of the Peloponnesian War recounts the 5th century BC war between Sparta and Athens to the year 411 BC. Thucydides has been dubbed the father of "scientific history" because of his strict standards of evidence-gathering and analysis of cause and effect without reference to intervention by the gods, as outlined in his introduction to his work...
NationalityGreek
ProfessionHistorian
military lying army
The strength of an Army lies in strict discipline and undeviating obedience to its officers.
fate men envy
To be an object of hatred and aversion to their contemporaries has been the usual fate of all those whose merit has raised them above the common level. The man who submits to the shafts of envy for the sake of noble objects pursues a judicious course for his own lasting fame. Hatred dies with its object, while merit soon breaks forth in full splendor, and his glory is handed down to posterity in never-dying strains.
justice athens injured
When will there be justice in Athens? There will be justice in Athens when those who are not injured are as outraged as those who are.
strong suffering world
Right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.
lying believe school
In practice we always base our preparations against an enemy on the assumption that his plans are good; indeed, it is right to rest our hopes not on a belief in his blunders, but on the soundness of our provisions. Nor ought we to believe that there is much difference between man and man, but to think that the superiority lies with him who is reared in the severest school.
people stories firsts
Most people, in fact, will not take the trouble in finding out the truth, but are much more inclined to accept the first story they hear.
men people greek
It is frequently a misfortune to have very brilliant men in charge of affairs. They expect too much of ordinary men.
justice people attention
Those who really deserve praise are the people who, while human enough to enjoy power, nevertheless pay more attention to justice than they are compelled to do by their situation.
men earth woven
The whole earth is the sepulchre of famous men.
men effort poverty
An avowal of poverty is no disgrace to any man; to make no effort to escape it is indeed disgraceful.
beautiful loss simple
We Greeks are lovers of the beautiful, yet simple in our tastes, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness.
men hands community
They whose minds are least sensitive to calamity, and whose hands are most quick to meet it, are the greatest men and the greatest communities.
giving demand way
If you give way, you will instantly have to meet some greater demand, as having been frightened into obedience in the first instance; while a firm refusal will make them clearly understand that they must treat you more as equals.
school succeed graduates
He who graduates the harshest school, succeeds.