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
education cities claims
In a word I claim that our city as a whole is an education to Greece.
clever men proud
Indeed it is generally the case that men are readier to call rogues clever than simpletons honest, and are ashamed of being the second as they are proud of being the first.
sacrifice towers firsts
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.
men blow firsts
Men do not rest content with parrying the attacks of a superior, but often strike the first blow to prevent the attack being made.
truth men hands
So little trouble do men take in the search after truth; so readily do they accept whatever comes first to hand.
character successful two
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.
adversity prosperity easier
Mankind apparently find it easier to drive away adversity than to retain prosperity.
democracy empires convinced
I have often before now been convinced that a democracy is incapable of empire...
war armistice
Peace is an armistice in a war that is continuously going on.
stories happens
Stories happen to those who tell them.
men looks firsts
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.
war character men
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
rewards merit citizens
And where the rewards for merit are greatest, there are found the best citizens.
mistake war waiting
It is a common mistake in going to war to begin at the wrong end, to act first, and wait for disasters to discuss the matter.