Herodotus quotes

Herodotus was an ancient Greek historian, often called the "Father of History." His most famous work, "Histories," detailed the Greco-Persian wars and the cultures of various peoples. He remains a foundational figure in the field of historical writing. Here are 80 of his quotes:

In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons.

Herodotus

Of all possessions, a friend is the most precious.

Herodotus

Men trust their eyes less than their ears.

Herodotus

Dreams in general take their rise from those incidents which have most occupied the thoughts during the day.

Herodotus

In soft regions are born soft men.

Herodotus

Great deeds are usually wrought at great risks.

Herodotus

Force has no place where there is need of skill.

Herodotus

I am bound to tell what I am told, but not in every case to believe it.

Herodotus

Haste in every business brings failure.

Herodotus

If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit of fun and relaxation, he would go mad or become unstable without knowing it.

Herodotus

Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest do not happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.

Herodotus

Whatever comes from God is impossible for a man to turn back.

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

The king's might is greater than human, and his arm is very long.

Herodotus

Call no man happy before he dies.

Herodotus

For if one should propose to all men a choice, bidding them select the best customs from all the customs that there are, each race of men, after examining them all, would select those of his own people; thus all think that their own customs are by far the best.

Herodotus

It is the gods' custom to bring low all things of surpassing greatness.

Herodotus

When life is so burdensome death has become a sought after refuge.

Herodotus

Far better it is to have a stout heart always and suffer one's share of evils, than to be ever fearing what may happen.

Herodotus

It is sound planning that invariably earns us the outcome we want; without it, even the gods are unlikely to look with favour on our designs.

Herodotus

The Scythians take kannabis seed, creep in under the felts, and throw it on the red-hot stones. It smolders and sends up such billows of steam-smoke that no Greek vapor bath can surpass it. The Scythians howl with joy in these vapor-baths, which serve them instead of bathing, for they never wash their bodies with water.

Herodotus