Of the gods we believe, and of men we know, that by a necessary law of their nature they rule wherever they can.
THUCYDIDESOf the gods we believe, and of men we know, that by a necessary law of their nature they rule wherever they can.
THUCYDIDESAnd it is certain that those who do not yield to their equals, who keep terms with their superiors, and are moderate towards their inferiors, on the whole succeed best.
THUCYDIDESRight, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.
THUCYDIDESThose who really deserve praise are the people who, while human enough to enjoy power, nevertheless pay more attention to justice than they are compelled to do by their situation.
THUCYDIDESI have often before now been convinced that a democracy is incapable of empire.
THUCYDIDESIn a democracy, someone who fails to get elected to office can always console himself with the thought that there was something not quite fair about it.
THUCYDIDESOf all manifestations of power, restraint impresses men most.
THUCYDIDESIt is useless to attack men who could not be controlled even if conquered, while failure would leave us in an even worse position.
THUCYDIDESWe Greeks are lovers of the beautiful, yet simple in our tastes, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness.
THUCYDIDESThe secret of happiness is freedom and the secret of freedom is courage.
THUCYDIDESYou shouldn’t feel sorry for the lifestyle you haven’t tasted, but for the one you are about to lose.
THUCYDIDESWe Greeks believe that a man who takes no part in public affairs is not merely lazy, but good for nothing.
THUCYDIDESSpeculation is carried on in safety, but, when it comes to action, fear causes failure.
THUCYDIDESHe passes through life most securely who has least reason to reproach himself with complaisance toward his enemies.
THUCYDIDESknowing the secret of happiness to be freedom, and the secret of freedom a brave heart, not idly to stand aside from the enemy’s onset.
THUCYDIDESMost people, in fact, will not take the trouble in finding out the truth, but are much more inclined to accept the first story they hear.
THUCYDIDES