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.
THUCYDIDESMen do not rest content with parrying the attacks of a superior, but often strike the first blow to prevent the attack being made.
More Thucydides Quotes
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Don’t confuse meaning with truth.
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We Greeks are lovers of the beautiful, yet simple in our tastes, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness.
THUCYDIDES -
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 -
When tremendous dangers are involved, no one can be blamed for looking to his own interest.
THUCYDIDES -
The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet not withstanding go out to meet it.
THUCYDIDES -
Hope, danger’s comforter.
THUCYDIDES -
Still hope leads men to venture; and no one ever yet put himself in peril without the inward conviction that he would succeed in his design.
THUCYDIDES -
Of all manifestations of power, restraint impresses men most.
THUCYDIDES -
Ignorance is bold and knowledge reserved.
THUCYDIDES -
We secure our friends not by accepting favours but by doing them.
THUCYDIDES -
We know that there can never be any solid friendship between individuals, or union between communities that is worth the name, unless the parties be persuaded of each others honesty
THUCYDIDES -
The secret of happiness is freedom and the secret of freedom is courage.
THUCYDIDES -
Now the only sure basis of an alliance is for each party to be equally afraid of the other.
THUCYDIDES -
The strong do what they have to do and the weak accept what they have to accept.
THUCYDIDES -
For they had learned that true safety was to be found in long previous training, and not in eloquent exhortations uttered when they were going into action.
THUCYDIDES