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I am bound to tell what I am told, but not in every case to believe it.

Herodotus

The man of affluence is not in fact more happy than the possessor of a bare competency, unless, in addition to his wealth, the end of his life be fortunate. We often see misery dwelling in the midst of splendour, whilst real happiness is found in humbler stations.
HERODOTUS

Happiness Humble Life Reality
We have two useless gods who never leave our island, but like to dwell in it constantly, Poverty and Helplessness.
HERODOTUS

God Help Islands Poor
But if you know that you are a man too, and that even such are those that rule, learn this first of all: that all human affairs are a wheel which, as it turns, does not allow the same men always to be fortunate.
HERODOTUS

Change Fortunate Human Men Rule
Envy is so natural to human kind, that it cannot but arise.
HERODOTUS

Character Envy Human Kind Nature
The ear is a less trustworthy witness than the eye.
HERODOTUS

Ears Eye Trust
Happiness is not fame or riches or heroic virtues, but a state that will inspire posterity to think in reflecting upon our life, that it was the life they would wish to live.
HERODOTUS

Happiness Inspirational Life Live Reflection Thinking
Before a man dies, hold back and call him not happy but lucky.
HERODOTUS

Death Happy Men
Unless a variety of opinions are laid before us, we have no opportunity of selection, but are bound of necessity to adopt the particular view which may have been brought forward.
HERODOTUS

Decision Necessary Opinion Opportunity View
The secret of success is that it is not the absence of failure, but the absence of envy.
HERODOTUS

Absence Envy Failure Secret Success
I never yet feared those men who set a place apart in the middle of their cities where they gather to cheat one another and swear oaths which they break.
HERODOTUS

Break Cheating Fear Men Place
We are less convinced by what we hear than by what we see.
HERODOTUS

Convinced Nature See
In peace sons bury fathers, but war violates the order of nature, and fathers bury sons.
HERODOTUS

Death Father Peace War
The most hateful grief of all human griefs is to have knowledge of a truth, but no power over the event.
HERODOTUS

Destiny Event Grief Knowledge Truth
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
There is nothing more foolish, nothing more given to outrage than a useless mob.
HERODOTUS

Foolish Outrage Useless War
If someone were to put a proposition before men bidding them choose, after examination, the best customs in the world, each nation would certainly select its own
HERODOTUS

Bidding Choice Men Nation World

I am bound to tell what I am told, but not in every case to believe it.

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I am bound to tell what I am told, but not in every case to believe it.

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