110+ Thucydides Quotes On War, Peloponnesian War And Human Nature

Thucydides was an ancient Greek historian who lived in the 5th century BC. He is best known for his work the History of the Peloponnesian War, which covers the war between Athens and Sparta from 431-404 BC. Thucydides is considered one of the earliest and most influential historians in Western civilization. Following is our collection on famous quotes by Thucydides on war, peloponnesian war, human nature.

Top 10 Thucydides Quotes

1. The strong do what they have to do and the weak accept what they have to accept.
2. 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.
3. Self-control is the chief element in self-respect, and respect of self, in turn, is the chief element in courage.
4. 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.
5. When will there be justice in Athens? There will be justice in Athens when those who are not injured are as outraged as those who are.
6. We Greeks believe that a man who takes no part in public affairs is not merely lazy, but good for nothing
7. Hope is an expensive commodity. It makes better sense to be prepared.
8. When a man finds a conclusion agreeable, he accepts it without argument, but when he finds it disagreeable, he will bring against it all the forces of logic and reason.
9. 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.
10. When tremendous dangers are involved, no one can be blamed for looking to his own interest.

Thucydides Short Quotes

• History is Philosophy teaching by example.
• Amassing of wealth is an opportunity for good deeds, not hubris
• Three of the gravest failings, want of sense, of courage, or of vigilance.
• Ignorance is bold and knowledge reserved.
• Hope, danger's comforter
• Now the only sure basis of an alliance is for each party to be equally afraid of the other
• The whole earth is the sepulchre of famous men.
• In a word I claim that our city as a whole is an education to Greece.
• You should punish in the same manner those who commit crimes with those who accuse falsely.
• Men naturally despise those who court them, but respect those who do not give way to them.

Thucydides Quotes About War

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. — Thucydides

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

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. — Thucydides

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

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

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

War is a matter not so much of arms as of money. — Thucydides

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 — Thucydides

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

Thucydides, an Athenian, wrote the history of the war between the Peloponnesians and the Athenians, he began at the moment that it broke out, believing that it would be a great war, and more memorable than any that had preceded it. — Thucydides

Thucydides Quotes About Democracy

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. — Thucydides

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

Thucydides Quotes About Power

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. — Thucydides

Of all manifestations of power, restraint impresses men most. — 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. — 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. — Thucydides

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. — Thucydides

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

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. — Thucydides

Those who really deserve praise are the people who, while human enough to enjoy power, nevertheless pay more attention to justice than they are compelled to do by their situation. — Thucydides

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. — Thucydides

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

Thucydides Quotes About Freedom

The secret of freedom, courage. — Thucydides

The secret of Happiness is Freedom, and the secret of Freedom, Courage. — Thucydides

...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. — Thucydides

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

Thucydides Famous Quotes And Sayings

War is an evil thing; but to submit to the dictation of other states is worse.... Freedom, if we hold fast to it, will ultimately restore our losses, but submission will mean permanent loss of all that we value.... To you who call yourselves men of peace, I say: You are not safe unless you have men of action on your side. — Thucydides

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. — Thucydides

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. — Thucydides

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

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. — Thucydides

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

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. — Thucydides

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

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

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

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. — Thucydides

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. — Thucydides

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. — Thucydides

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

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 — Thucydides

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

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 — Thucydides

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. — Thucydides

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

Wealth to us is not mere material for vainglory but an opportunity for achievement; and poverty we think it no disgrace to acknowledge but a real degredation to make no effort to overcome. — Thucydides

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. — Thucydides

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. — Thucydides

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 — Thucydides

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

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. — Thucydides

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. — Thucydides

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 — Thucydides

Mens 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. — Thucydides

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. — Thucydides

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. — Thucydides

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. — Thucydides

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

Our form of government does not enter into rivalry with the institutions of others. We do not copy our neighbours, but are an example to them. It is true that we are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not of the few. But while the law secures equal justice to all alike in their private disputes, the claim of excellence is also recognised; and when a citizen is in any way distinguished, he is preferred to the public service, not as a matter of privilege, but as the reward of merit. Neither is poverty a bar, but a man may benefit his country whatever be the obscurity of his condition. — Thucydides

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

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

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. — Thucydides

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

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? — Thucydides

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

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

An Athenian citizen does not neglect the state because he takes care of his own household; and even those of us who are engaged in business have a very fair idea of politics. We alone regard a man who takes no interest in public affairs, not as a harmless, but as a useless character, and if few of us are originators, we are all sound judges of a policy. — Thucydides

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

Don't confuse meaning with truth. — Thucydides

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. — Thucydides

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

He who graduates the harshest school, succeeds. — Thucydides

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

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. — Thucydides

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

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

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

Stories happen to those who tell them. — Thucydides

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

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. — Thucydides

To be an object of hatred and aversion to their contemporaries has been the usual fate of all those whose merit has raised them above the common level. The man who submits to the shafts of envy for the sake of noble objects pursues a judicious course for his own lasting fame. Hatred dies with its object, while merit soon breaks forth in full splendor, and his glory is handed down to posterity in never-dying strains. — Thucydides

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

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. — Thucydides

Knowledge without understanding is useless. — 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. — Thucydides

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

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. — Thucydides

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. — Thucydides

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. — Thucydides

We must remember that one man is much the same as another, and that he is best who is trained in the severest school. — Thucydides

Life Lessons by Thucydides

1. Thucydides taught that the study of history is essential for understanding the present and planning for the future. He believed that studying the mistakes of the past can help us to avoid repeating them in the future.
2. Thucydides also emphasized the importance of understanding the motivations of others in order to effectively navigate complex political situations.
3. Finally, Thucydides taught that the study of history can reveal the universal truths of human nature, which can help us to make better decisions in our own lives.