Thucydides quotes

Thucydides was an ancient Greek historian, most famous for his account of the Peloponnesian War. His work is regarded as a foundational text in the study of history and political science. He influenced generations of historians with his emphasis on factual accuracy and analysis of human nature. Here are 99 of his quotes:

Happiness depends on being free, and freedom depends on being courageous. (Thucydides)
History is Philosophy teaching by examples. View quote
Thucydides
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. View quote
Thucydides
Contempt for an assailant is best shown by bravery in action. View quote
Thucydides
I dread our own mistakes more than the enemy's intentions. View quote
Thucydides
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. View quote
Thucydides
I have often before now been convinced that a democracy is incapable of empire... View quote
Thucydides
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. View quote
Thucydides
Thucydides, an Athenian, wrote the history of the war between the Peloponnesians and the Athenians, beginning at the moment that it broke out, and believing that it would be a great war, and more worthy of relation than any that had proceeded it. View quote
Thucydides
concessions to adversaries only end in self reproach, and the more strictly they are avoided the greater will be the chance of security. View quote
Thucydides
war is a matter not so much of arms as of money. (Thucydides)
Now the only sure basis of an alliance is for each party to be equally afraid of the other. View quote
Thucydides
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. View quote
Thucydides
the Thracian people, like the bloodiest of the barbarians, being ever most murderous when it has nothing to fear. View quote
Thucydides
We secure our friends not by accepting favors but by doing them. View quote
Thucydides
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. View quote
Thucydides
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. View quote
Thucydides
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. View quote
Thucydides
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. View quote
Thucydides
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. View quote
Thucydides
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)
You can now, if you choose, employ your present success to advantage, so as to keep what you have got and gain honour and reputation besides, and you can avoid the mistake of those who meet with an extraordinary piece of good fortune, and are led on by hope to grasp continually at something further, through having already succeeded without expecting it. View quote
Thucydides
Of the gods we believe, and of men we know, that by a necessary law of their nature they rule wherever they can. View quote
Thucydides
It is a common mistake in going to war to begin at the wrong end, to act first, and wait for disaster to discuss the matter. View quote
Thucydides
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. View quote
Thucydides