Thucydides famous quotes

Last updated: Sep 5, 2024

The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding go out to meet it.
-- Thucydides

#Positive #Courage #Vision
We secure our friends not by accepting favors but by doing them.
-- Thucydides

#Friendship #Favors #Accepting
The Nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools.
-- Thucydides

#Military #Warrior #Fighting
Hope is an expensive commodity. It makes better sense to be prepared.
-- Thucydides

#Commodity #Be Prepared #Prepared
Self-control is the chief element in self-respect and self-respect is the chief element in courage.
-- Thucydides

#Self Esteem #Self Respect #Self Control
They are surely to be esteemed the bravest spirits who, having the clearest sense of both the pains and pleasures of life, do not on that account shrink from danger.
-- Thucydides

#Pain #Spirit #Pleasure
I am not blaming those who are resolved to rule, only those who show an even greater readiness to submit.
-- Thucydides

#War #Blame #Shows
We Greeks believe that a man who takes no part in public affairs is not merely lazy, but good for nothing
-- Thucydides

#Believe #Men #Greek
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
-- Thucydides

#War #Character #Men
The strong do what they have to do and the weak accept what they have to accept.
-- Thucydides

#Strength #Strong #Peace
Some legislators only wish to vengeance against a particular enemy. Others only look out for themselves. They devote very little time on the consideration of any public issue. They think that no harm will come from their neglect. They act as if it is always the business of somebody else to look after this or that. When this selfish notion is entertained by all, the commonwealth slowly begins to decay.
-- Thucydides

#Selfish #Thinking #Issues
History is Philosophy teaching by example.
-- Thucydides

#Philosophy #Teaching #History
When one is deprived of ones liberty, one is right in blaming not so much the man who puts the shackles on as the one who had the power to prevent him, but did not use it.
-- Thucydides

#Men #Liberty #Use
Three of the greatest failings, want of sense, of courage, or of vigilance.
-- Thucydides

#Want #Three #Failing
We must remember that one man is much the same as another, and that he is best who is trained in the severest school.
-- Thucydides

#School #Men #Remember
It is from the greatest dangers that the greatest glory is to be won.
-- Thucydides

#Glory #Danger
Remember that this greatness was won by men with courage, with knowledge of their duty, and with a sense of honor in action.
-- Thucydides

#Greatness #Men #Honor
The secret of happiness is freedom.
-- Thucydides

#Secret
Happiness depends on being free, and freedom depends on being courageous.
-- Thucydides

#Being Free #Courageous
A private man, however successful in his own dealing, if his country perish is involved in her destruction; but if he be an unprosperous citizen of a prosperous city, he is much more likely to recover. Seeing, then, that States can bear the misfortunes of individuals, but individuals cannot bear the misfortunes of States, let us all stand by our country.
-- Thucydides

#Country #Successful #Men
Ignorance is bold and knowledge reserved.
-- Thucydides

#Ignorance #Religion #Atheism
Few things are brought to a successful issue by impetuous desire, but most by calm and prudent forethought.
-- Thucydides

#Successful #Issues #Desire
And where the rewards for merit are greatest, there are found the best citizens.
-- Thucydides

#Rewards #Merit #Citizens
It is the habit of mankind to entrust to careless hope what they long for, and to use sovereign reason to thrust aside what they do not desire
-- Thucydides

#Long #Desire #Use
You should punish in the same manner those who commit crimes with those who accuse falsely.
-- Thucydides

#Crime #Should #Commit
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.
-- Thucydides

#Mistake #War #Waiting

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