History is marked by alternating movements across the imaginary line that separates East from West in Eurasia. Herodotus More Quotes by Herodotus More Quotes From Herodotus One man envies the success in life of another, and hates him in secret; nor is he willing to give him good advice when he is consulted, except it be by some wonderful effort of good feeling, and there are, alas, few such men in the world. A real friend, on the other hand, exults in his friend?s happiness, rejoices in all his joys, and is ready to afford him the best advice. Herodotus success happiness life Call no man happy before he dies. Herodotus dies happiness men 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 guides earth men The ear is a less trustworthy witness than the eye. Herodotus trustworthy eye ears The wooden wall alone should remain unconquered. Herodotus ships all-alone wall Force has no place where there is need of skill. Herodotus skills military needs If an important decision is to be made, they [the Persians] discuss the question when they are drunk, and the following day the master of the house where the discussion was held submits their decision for reconsideration when they are sober. If they still approve it, it is adopted; if not, it is abandoned. Conversely, any decision they make when they are sober, is reconsidered afterwards when they are drunk. Herodotus drunk decision house 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 fighting memorable Many exceedingly rich men are unhappy, but many middling circumstances are fortunate. Herodotus rich unhappy men Civil strife is as much a greater evil than a concerted war effort as war itself is worse than peace. Herodotus effort evil war 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 cities men cheating The gods loves to punish whatever is greater than the rest. Herodotus greater god-love It is clear that not in one thing alone, but in many ways equality and freedom of speech are a good thing. Herodotus freedom-of-speech equality way The worst part a man can suffer is to have insight into much and power over nothing. Herodotus power suffering men Chances rule men and not men chances. Herodotus chance men The destiny of man is in his own soul. Herodotus Death is a delightful hiding place for weary men. Herodotus Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal While others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before. Herodotus This is the bitterest pain among men, to have much knowledge but no power. Herodotus Those who are skilled in archery bend their bow only when they are prepared to use it; when they do not require it they allow it to remain unbent, for otherwise it would be unserviceable when the time for using it arrived. So it is with man. If he were to devote himself unceasingly to a dull round of business, without breaking the monotony by cheerful amusements, he would fall imperceptibly into idiotcy, or be struck with paralysis. Herodotus
