Don't confuse meaning with truth. Thucydides More Quotes by Thucydides More Quotes From Thucydides ...knowing 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. Thucydides knowing brave heart For if many ill-conceived plans have succeeded through the still greater lack of judgment of an opponent, many more, apparently well laid, have on the contrary ended in disgrace. The confidence with which we form our schemes is never completely justified in their execution; speculation is carried on in safety, but, when it comes to action, fear causes failure. Thucydides opponents safety causes In peace and prosperity states and individuals have better sentiments, because they do not find themselves suddenly confronted with imperious necessities; but war takes away the easy supply of daily wants and so proves a rough master that brings most men's characters to a level with their fortunes Thucydides character men war The secret of freedom, courage. Thucydides freedom secret courage In a word I claim that our city as a whole is an education to Greece. Thucydides cities claims education I could have wished that the reputations of many brave men were not to be imperilled in the mouth of a single individual, to stand or fall according as he spoke well or ill. For it is hard to speak properly upon a subject where it is even difficult to convince your hearers that you are speaking the truth. Thucydides brave men fall Contempt for an assailant is best shown by bravery in action. Thucydides contempt bravery action Again, in our enterprises we present the singular spectacle of daring and deliberation, each carried to its highest point, and both united in the same persons; although usually decision is the fruit of ignorance, hesitation of reflection. But the palm of courage will surely be adjudged most justly to those, who best know the difference between hardship and pleasure and yet are never tempted to shrink from danger. In generosity we are equally singular, acquiring our friends by conferring, not by receiving, favours. Thucydides differences ignorance reflection Men do not rest content with parrying the attacks of a superior, but often strike the first blow to prevent the attack being made. Thucydides blow men firsts Hope, danger's comforter Thucydides comforter danger 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 inward design men On the whole, however, the conclusions I have drawn from the proofs quoted may, I believe, safely be relied on. Assuredly they will not be disturbed either by the lays of a poet displaying the exaggeration of his craft, or by the compositions of the chroniclers that are attractive at truth's expense; the subjects they treat of being out of the reach of evidence, and time having robbed most of them of historical value by enthroning them in the region of legend. Thucydides historical-value crafts believe 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 honesty party names People get into the habit of entrusting the things they desire to wishful thinking, and subjecting things they don't desire to exhaustive thinking Thucydides desire people thinking Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just contempt of an enemy can alone arise in those who feel that they are superior to their opponent by the prudence of their measures. Thucydides coward successful enemy There is, however, no advantage in reflections on the past further than may be of service to the present. For the future we must provide by maintaining what the present gives us and redoubling our efforts; it is hereditary to us to win virtue as the fruit of labour, and you must not change the habit, even though you should have a slight advantage in wealth and resources; for it is not right that what was won in want should be lost in plenty. Thucydides reflection winning past The cause of all these evils was the lust for power arising from greed and ambition; and from these passions proceeded the violence of parties once engaged in contention. Thucydides passion party ambition Wars spring from unseen and generally insignificant causes, the first outbreak being often but an explosion of anger. Thucydides anger spring war when night came on, the Macedonians and the barbarian crowd suddenly took fright in one of those mysterious panics to which great armies are liable Thucydides crowds army night What made the war inevitable was the growth of Athenian power and the fear which this caused in Sparta. Thucydides growth war history
