Thucydides quotes:

We Greeks are lovers of the beautiful, yet simple in our tastes, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness.

Wars spring from unseen and generally insignificant causes, the first outbreak being often but an explosion of anger.

Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly the perils of war.

The meaning of words had no longer the same relation to things... Reckless daring was held to be loyal courage; prudent delay was the excuse of a coward; moderation was the disguise of unmanly weakness; to know everything was to do nothing. Frantic energy was the true quality of man.

History is Philosophy teaching by example.

We secure our friends not by accepting favors but by doing them.

Ignorance is bold and knowledge reserved.

Men's indignation, it seems, is more excited by legal wrong than by violent wrong; the first looks like being cheated by an equal, the second like being compelled by a superior.

Few things are brought to a successful issue by impetuous desire, but most by calm and prudent forethought.

Athens' biggest worry was the sheer recklessness of its own democratic government. A simple majority of the citizenry, urged on and incensed by clever demagogues, might capriciously send out military forces in unnecessary and exhausting adventures.

The strong do what they have to do and the weak accept what they have to accept.

Peace is an armistice in a war that is continuously going on.

...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.

Men's indignation, it seems, is more exited by legal wrong than by violent wrong; the first looks like being cheated by an equal, the second like being compelled by a superior.

The secret to happiness is freedom... And the secret to freedom is courage.

Men naturally despise those who court them, but respect those who do not give way to them.

You know well as I do that when we are talking on the human plane, questions of justice only arise when there is equal power to compel: in terms of practicality the dominant exact what they can and the weak concede what they must. (Said by Athenian envoy to the Melians)

The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding go out to meet it.

Most 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.

For so remarkably perverse is the nature of man that he despises whoever courts him, and admires whoever will not bend before him.

An avowal of poverty is no disgrace to any man; to make no effort to escape it is indeed disgraceful

People are inclined to accept all stories of ancient times in an uncritical way -even when those stories concern their own native counties...Most people, in fact, will not take trouble in finding out the truth, but are more inclined to accept the first story they hear.

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

By day certainly the combatants have a clearer notion, though even then by no means of all that takes place, no one knowing much of anything that does not does not go on in his own immediate neighborhood; but in a night engagement ( and this was the only one that occurred between great armies during the war) how could anyone know anything for certain?

Amassing of wealth is an opportunity for good deeds, not hubris

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.

Indeed it is generally the case that men are readier to call rogues clever than simpletons honest, and are ashamed of being the second as they are proud of being the first.

It is frequently a misfortune to have very brilliant men in charge of affairs. They expect too much of ordinary men.

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.

Self-control is the chief element in self-respect, and self-respect is the chief element in courage.

The Nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools.

Self-control is the chief element in self-respect and self-respect is the chief element in courage.

When one is deprived of ones liberty, one is right in blaming not so much the man who puts the shackles on as the one who had the power to prevent him, but did not use it.

The growth of the power of Athens, and the alarm which this inspired in Sparta, made war inevitable.

What made the war inevitable was the growth of Athenian power and the fear which this caused in Sparta.

The sufferings that fate inflicts on us should be borne with patience, what enemies inflict with manly courage.

But the prize for courage will surely be awarded most justly to those who best know the difference between hardship and pleasure and yet are never tempted to shrink from danger.

Abstinence from all injustice to other first-rate powers is a greater tower of strength than anything that can be gained by the sacrifice of permanent tranquillity for an apparent temporary advantage.

The peoples of the Mediterranean began to emerge from barbarism when they learned to cultivate the olive and the vine.

The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.

Justice will not come to Athens until those who are not injured are as indignant as those who are injured.

... Athenians are addicted to innovation. They are daring beyond their judgment they toil on with little opportunity for enjoying, being ever engaged in getting, they were born into the world to take no rest themselves, and to give none to others.

A collision at sea can ruin your entire day.

A private man, however successful in his own dealing, if his country perish is involved in her destruction; but if he be an unprosperous citizen of a prosperous city, he is much more likely to recover. Seeing, then, that States can bear the misfortunes of individuals, but individuals cannot bear the misfortunes of States, let us all stand by our country.

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.

An avowal of poverty is no disgrace to any man; to make no effort to escape it is indeed disgraceful.

And 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.

And where the rewards for merit are greatest, there are found the best citizens.

As for democracy, the men of sense among us knew what it was, and I perhaps as well as any, as I have more cause to complain of it; but there is nothing new to be said of a patent absurdity-meanwhile we did not think it safe to alter it under the pressure of your hostility.

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.

concessions to adversaries only end in self reproach, and the more strictly they are avoided the greater will be the chance of security.

Contempt for an assailant is best shown by bravery in action.

Don't confuse meaning with truth

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.

For men can endure to hear others praised only so long as they can severally persuade themselves of their own ability to equal the actions recounted: when this point is passed, envy comes in and with it incredulity.

For men naturally despise those who court them, but respect those who do not give way to them.

For the love of gain would reconcile the weaker to the dominion of the stronger, and the possession of capital enabled the more powerful to reduce the smaller cities to subjection.

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.

For we both alike know that into the discussion of human affairs the question of justice enters only where the pressure of necessity is equal, and that the powerful exact what they can, and the weak grant what they must.

Full of hopes beyond their power though not beyond their ambition.

Happiness depends on being free, and freedom depends on being courageous.

Hatred also is short lived; but that which makes the splendor of the present and the glory of the future remains forever unforgotten here we bless your simplicity but do not envy your folly.

He passes through life most securely who has least reason to reproach himself with complaisance toward his enemies.

He who graduates the harshest school, succeeds.

Hope is an expensive commodity. It makes better sense to be prepared.

Hope, danger's comforter

Human nature is the one constant through human history. It is always there.

I am not blaming those who are resolved to rule, only those who show an even greater readiness to submit.

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.

I dread our own mistakes more than the enemy's intentions.

I have often before now been convinced that a democracy is incapable of empire...

I have written my work, not as an essay which is to win the applause of the moment, but as a possession for all time

I think the two things most opposed to good counsel are haste and passion; haste usaully goes hand in hand with folly, passion with coarseness and narrowness of mind.

If it had not been for the pernicious power of envy, men would not so have exalted vengeance above innocence and profit above justice... in these acts of revenge on others, men take it upon themselves to begin the process of repealing those general laws of humanity which are there to give a hope of salvation to all who are in distress.

If you give way, you will instantly have to meet some greater demand, as having been frightened into obedience in the first instance; while a firm refusal will make them clearly understand that they must treat you more as equals.

In 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.

In a word I claim that our city as a whole is an education to Greece.

In general, the men of lower intelligence won out. Afraid of their own shortcomings and of the intelligence of their opponents, so that they would not lose out in reasoned argument or be taken by surprise by their quick-witted opponents, they boldly moved into action. Their enemies,on the contrary, contemptuous and confident in their ability to anticipate, thought there was no need to take by action what they could win by their brains.

In generosity we are equally singular, acquiring our friends by conferring, not by receiving, favours.

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

In practice we always base our preparations against an enemy on the assumption that his plans are good; indeed, it is right to rest our hopes not on a belief in his blunders, but on the soundness of our provisions. Nor ought we to believe that there is much difference between man and man, but to think that the superiority lies with him who is reared in the severest school.

Indeed men too often take upon themselves in the prosecution of their revenge to set the example of doing away with those general laws to which all can look for salvation in adversity, instead of allowing them to subsist against the day of danger when their aid may be required

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.

It is a general rule of human nature that people despise those who treat them well, and look up to those who make no concessions.

It is from the greatest dangers that the greatest glory is to be won.

It is men who make a city, not walls or ships.

It is the habit of mankind to entrust to careless hope what they long for, and to use sovereign reason to thrust aside what they do not desire

It is useless to attack men who could not be controlled even if conquered, while failure would leave us in an even worse position...

It must be thoroughly understood that war is a necessity, and that the more readily we accept it,the less will be the ardor of our opponents, and that out of the greatest dangers communities and individuals acquire the greatest glory.

Knowledge without understanding is useless.

Love of power, operating through greed and through personal ambition, was the cause of all these evils.

Mankind apparently find it easier to drive away adversity than to retain prosperity.

Mankind are tolerant of the praises of others as long as each hearer thinks that he can do as well or nearly as well himself, but, when the speaker rises above him, jealousy is aroused and he begins to be incredulous.

Men do not rest content with parrying the attacks of a superior, but often strike the first blow to prevent the attack being made.

Now the only sure basis of an alliance is for each party to be equally afraid of the other

Of all manifestations of power, restraint impresses men most.

Of the gods we believe, and of men we know, that by a necessary law of their nature they rule wherever they can.

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.

One's sense of honor is the only thing that does not grow old, and the last pleasure, when one is worn out with age, is not, as the poet said, making money, but having the respect of one's fellow men.

People get into the habit of entrusting the things they desire to wishful thinking, and subjecting things they don't desire to exhaustive thinking

Remember that this greatness was won by men with courage, with knowledge of their duty, and with a sense of honor in action.

Right, 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.

So little trouble do men take in the search after truth; so readily do they accept whatever comes first to hand.

Some legislators only wish to vengeance against a particular enemy. Others only look out for themselves. They devote very little time on the consideration of any public issue. They think that no harm will come from their neglect. They act as if it is always the business of somebody else to look after this or that. When this selfish notion is entertained by all, the commonwealth slowly begins to decay.

speculation is carried on in safety, but, when it comes to action, fear causes failure.

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.

Stories happen to those who tell them.

The absence of romance from my history will, I fear, detract somewhat from its interest; but if it be judged useful by those inquirers who desire an exact knowledge of the past as an aid to the interpretation of the future, which in the course of human things must resemble if it does not reflect it, I shall be content. In fine, I have written my work, not as an essay which is to win the applause of the moment, but as a possession for all time.

The Peloponnesian War turns out to be no dry chronicle of abstract cause and effect. No, it is above all an intense, riveting, and timeless story of strong and weak men, of heroes and scoundrels and innocents too, all caught in the fateful circumstances of rebellion, plague, and war that always strip away the veneer of culture and show us for what we really are.

The secret of freedom, courage....

The secret of happiness is freedom.

The strength of an Army lies in strict discipline and undeviating obedience to its officers.

The superior gratification derived from the use and contemplation of costly and supposedly beautiful products is, commonly, in great measure a gratification of our sense of costliness masquerading under the name of beauty.

the Thracian people, like the bloodiest of the barbarians, being ever most murderous when it has nothing to fear.

The whole earth is the sepulchre of famous men.

The wide difference between the two characters, the slowness and want of energy of the Spartans as contrasted with the dash and enterprise of their opponents, proved of the greatest service, especially to a maritime empire like Athens. Indeed this was shown by the Syracusans, who were most like the Athenians in character, and also most successful in combating them.

There is no need to suppose that human beings differ very much one from another; but it is true that the ones who come out on top are the ones who have been trained in the hardest school.

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.

They whose minds are least sensitive to calamity, and whose hands are most quick to meet it, are the greatest men and the greatest communities.

Those who have experienced good and bad luck many times have every reason to be skeptical of successes