Thucydides Quotes

We Greeks believe that a man who takes no part in public affairs is not merely lazy, but good for nothing

~ Thucydides

For the whole earth is the tomb of famous men; not only are they commemorated by columns and inscriptions in their own country, but in foreign lands there dwells also an unwritten memorial of them, graven not on stone but in the hearts of men. Make them your examples, and, esteeming courage to be freedom and freedom to be happiness, do not weigh too nicely the perils of war.[Funeral Oration of Pericles]

~ Thucydides

You know and we know, as practical men that the question of justice arises only between parties equal in strength and that the strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must.

~ Thucydides

The absence of romance in my history will, I fear, detract somewhat from its interest, but if it is judged worthy by those inquirers who desire an exact knowledge of the past as an aid to the understanding of the future, which in the course of human things must resemble if it does not reflect it, I shall be content.In fine I have written my work not as an essay with which to win the applause of the moment but as a possession for all time.

~ Thucydides

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.

~ Thucydides

Self-control is the chief element in self-respect, and self-respect is the chief element in courage.

~ Thucydides

I think the two things most opposed to good counsel are haste and passion; haste usaully goes hand in hand with folly, passion with coarseness and narrowness of mind.

~ Thucydides

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.

~ Thucydides

People are inclined to accept all stories of ancient times in an uncritical way -even when those stories concern their own native counties...Most people, in fact, will not take trouble in finding out the truth, but are more inclined to accept the first story they hear.

~ Thucydides

Mankind are tolerant of the praises of others as long as each hearer thinks that he can do as well or nearly as well himself, but, when the speaker rises above him, jealousy is aroused and he begins to be incredulous.

~ Thucydides

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

You know well as I do that when we are talking on the human plane, questions of justice only arise when there is equal power to compel: in terms of practicality the dominant exact what they can and the weak concede what they must. (Said by Athenian envoy to the Melians)

~ Thucydides

In a democracy, someone who fails to get elected to office can always console himself with the thought that there was something not quite fair about it.

~ Thucydides

Difficulty of subsistence made the invaders reduce the numbers of the army to a point at which it might live on the country during the prosecution of the war.

~ Thucydides

It is frequently a misfortune to have very brilliant men in charge of affairs. They expect too much of ordinary men.

~ Thucydides

Men naturally despise those who court them, but respect those who do not give way to them.

~ Thucydides

Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly the perils of war.

~ Thucydides

History is Philosophy teaching by example.

~ Thucydides

The secret to happiness is freedom... And the secret to freedom is courage.

~ Thucydides

Ignorance is bold and knowledge reserved.

~ Thucydides

Wars spring from unseen and generally insignificant causes, the first outbreak being often but an explosion of anger.

~ Thucydides

Men's indignation, it seems, is more excited 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