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He is the best man who, when making his plans, fears and reflects on everything that can happen to him, but in the moment of action is bold.

Herodotus

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
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
Of all possessions a friend is the most precious.
HERODOTUS

Friendship Material Value
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
My men have become women, but the women men.
HERODOTUS

Courage Men Women
Great deeds are usually wrought at great risks.
HERODOTUS

Death Inspirational One Liner Suicide
The trials of living and the pangs of disease make even the short span of life too long.
HERODOTUS

Disease Live Long Time Trials
If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit of fun and relaxation, he would go mad or become unstable without knowing it.
HERODOTUS

Fun Himself Men relief Serious
It is the gods’ custom to bring low all things of surpassing greatness.
HERODOTUS

God Greatness Lows
Historia (Inquiry); so that the actions of of people will not fade with time.
HERODOTUS

Action End Fade Life People Time
Far better it is to have a stout heart always and suffer one’s share of evils, than to be ever fearing what may happen.
HERODOTUS

Evil Fear Heart Suffering
God does not suffer presumption in anyone but himself.
HERODOTUS

God Himself Suffering
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
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
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
I know that human happiness never remains long in the same place.
HERODOTUS

Happiness Human Philosophy Remain
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
The ear is a less trustworthy witness than the eye.
HERODOTUS

Ears Eye Trust
Whatever comes from God is impossible for a man to turn back.
HERODOTUS

Divine God Impossible Men People
Envy is so natural to human kind, that it cannot but arise.
HERODOTUS

Character Envy Human Kind Nature
It [Egypt] has more wonders in it than any other country in the world and provides more works that defy description than any otherplace.
HERODOTUS

Country Egypt World
It is a law of nature that fainthearted men should be the fruit of luxurious countries, for we never find that the same soil produces delicacies and heroes.
HERODOTUS

Born Country Hero Law Men Nature
But I like not these great successes of yours; for I know how jealous are the gods.
HERODOTUS

God Greatness Jealous Success
Call no man happy before he dies.
HERODOTUS

Death Happiness Himself Men
The period of a [Persian] boy’s education is between the ages of five and twenty, and he is taught three things only: to ride, to use the bow, and to speak the truth.
HERODOTUS

Age Chilren Education
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
Where wisdom is called for, force is of little use.
HERODOTUS

Force Little Wisdom

He is the best man who, when making his plans, fears and reflects on everything that can happen to him, but in the moment of action is bold.

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He is the best man who, when making his plans, fears and reflects on everything that can happen to him, but in the moment of action is bold.

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