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History of the Peloponnesian War

Book by Thucydides · 12 quotes · War, Anti War, Antiwar

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History of the Peloponnesian War Quotes

“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”

“For the whole earth is the tomb of famous men; not only are they commemorated by columns and inscriptions in their own country, but in foreign lands there dwells also an unwritten memorial of them, graven not on stone but in the hearts of men. Make them your examples, and, esteeming courage to be freedom and freedom to be happiness, do not weigh too nicely the perils of war." [Funeral Oration of Pericles]”

“Tucídides el ateniense relató la guerra entre los peloponesios y los atenienses describiendo cómo lucharon unos contra otros, y se puso a ello apenas fue declarada por considerar que iba a ser grande y más famosa que todas las anteriores; se fundaba en que ambos bandos estaban en muy buena situación para ella gracias a sus preparativos de todas clases, y en que veía que el resto de los griegos se aliaba a uno u otro partido, unos inmediatamente y otros retrasando el momento. Pues fue éste, efectivamente, el mayor desastre que haya sobrevenido a los griegos y a una parte de los bárbaros, y, por así decirlo, a la mayoría de los hombres.”

“He will see the doctrine of arbitration, welcomed as a newly-discovered panacea by our amiable enthusiasts, more firmly established in theory than it is yet likely to be in modern Europe, and as impotent to avert the evils of war from the communities who provided for it in every treaty, and invoked it whenever it seemed their interest to do so.”