Thucydides

Quotes

1. [W]e must make up our minds to look for our protection not to legal terrors but to careful administration.

2. 

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

3. 

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

4. 

   " 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,"

5. 

   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.

6. 

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

7. 

   But what most oppressed them was that they had two wars at once, and has thus reached a pitch of frenzy which no one would have believed possible if he had heard of it before it had come to pass.

8. 

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

9. 

   [H]ere we bless your simplicity but do not envy your folly.

10. 

    We must not disguise from ourselves that we go to found a city among strangers and enemies, and he who undertakes such an enterprise should be prepared to become master of the country the first day he lands, or failing in this find everything hostile to him.

11. 

    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.

12. 

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