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It is the gods’ custom to bring low all things of surpassing greatness.

Herodotus

One should always look to the end of everything, how it will finally come out. For the god has shown blessedness to many only to overturn them utterly in the end.
HERODOTUS

Belief Blessing End God Hope Oneself
It is the gods’ custom to bring low all things of surpassing greatness.
HERODOTUS

God Greatness Lows
Chances rule men and not men chances.
HERODOTUS

Chance Men Rule
It is sound planning that invariably earns us the outcome we want; without it, even the gods are unlikely to look with favour on our designs.
HERODOTUS

Design Effort Favour Outcomes Result
How can a monarchy be a suitable thing, which allows a man to do as he pleases with none to hold him to account. And even if you were to take the best man on earth, and put him into a monarchy, you put outside him the thoughts that usually guide him.
HERODOTUS

Himself Men Politics Rule
I am bound to tell what I am told, but not in every case to believe it.
HERODOTUS

Believe Bound Cases Myself
Those who are guided by reason are generally successful in their plans; those who are rash and precipitate seldom enjoy the favour of the gods.
HERODOTUS

Enjoyment Favour God Reason Success
The Lacedaemonians fought a memorable battle; they made it quite clear that they were the experts, and that they were fighting against amateurs.
HERODOTUS

Battle Fight Memories
The sun will not shine on any country that has borders with ours.
HERODOTUS

Ourselves Shine War
Of all possessions a friend is the most precious.
HERODOTUS

Friendship Material Value
As the old saw says well: every end does not appear together with its beginning. It’s impossible for someone who is human to have all good things together, just as there is no single country able to provide all good things for itself.
HERODOTUS

Country Goodness Human Philosophy Togetherness
The trials of living and the pangs of disease make even the short span of life too long.
HERODOTUS

Disease Live Long Time Trials
But I like not these great successes of yours; for I know how jealous are the gods.
HERODOTUS

God Greatness Jealous Success
A woman takes off her claim to respect along with her garments.
HERODOTUS

Naked Respect Women
The ear is a less trustworthy witness than the eye.
HERODOTUS

Ears Eye Trust
Call no man happy before he dies.
HERODOTUS

Death Happiness Himself Men

It is the gods’ custom to bring low all things of surpassing greatness.

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It is the gods’ custom to bring low all things of surpassing greatness.

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