Quotes from Thucydides

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.

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.

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.

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.

a collision at sea will ruin your entire day

Think, too, of the great part that is played by the unpredictable in war: think of it now, before you are actually comitted to war. The longer a war lasts, the more things tend to depend on accidents. Neither you nor we can see into them: we have to abide their outcome in the dark. And when people are entering upon a war they do things the wrong way round. Action comes first, and it is only when they have already suffered that they begin to think.

Three of the greatest failings, want of sense, of courage, or of vigilance.

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.

The society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools.

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

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

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

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

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

The secret of freedom, courage.

...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.

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

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

The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage

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.