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Circumstances rule men; men do not rule circumstances.

Herodotus

The man who has planned badly, if fortune is on his side, may have had a stroke of luck; but his plan was a bad one nonetheless.
HERODOTUS

Fortune Luck Men Side
History is marked by alternating movements across the imaginary line that separates East from West in Eurasia.
HERODOTUS

History Imagination Movement War
The worst part a man can suffer is to have insight into much and power over nothing.
HERODOTUS

Men Philosophy Power Suffering Worst
Force has no place where there is need of skill.
HERODOTUS

Force Military Need Skill
There is nothing more foolish, nothing more given to outrage than a useless mob.
HERODOTUS

Foolish Outrage Useless War
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
It is better to be envied than pitied.
HERODOTUS

Better Envy One Liner
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
If one is sufficiently lavish with time, everything possible happens.
HERODOTUS

Inspirational Possible Time
Love of honor is a very shady sort of possession.
HERODOTUS

Honor Love Possession Shady
It is clear that not in one thing alone, but in many ways equality and freedom of speech are a good thing.
HERODOTUS

Alone Equality Freedom Goodness Talk
Whatever comes from God is impossible for a man to turn back.
HERODOTUS

Divine God Impossible Men People
Great things are won by great dangers.
HERODOTUS

Danger Greatness Inspirational One Liner
Chances rule men and not men chances.
HERODOTUS

Chance Men Rule
Where wisdom is called for, force is of little use.
HERODOTUS

Force Little Wisdom
The worst pain a man can have is to know much and be impotent to act.
HERODOTUS

Act Knowledge Men Pain Worst

Circumstances rule men; men do not rule circumstances.

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Circumstances rule men; men do not rule circumstances.

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