Thucydides Quotes

Historian

Thucydides, a renowned Greek historian, lived from 460 BC to 395 BC. His work, 'The History of the Peloponnesian War', is considered a classic in Western historical writing, known for its meticulous record of facts and profound political analysis.

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All Men War Firsts Ifs Danger Enemy Action Causes Knows Thinking Accepting Humans Military People Athenians Believe Cities Courage Giving Glory

Famous Thucydides Quotes

“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.”

Should Firsts Country Found Cities Enemy Failing Land Masters Prepared Stranger Enterprise Disguise Be Prepared Hostile

Book:The Landmark Thucydides

Source: The Landmark 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.”

Powerful Cities Gains Stronger Possession Dominion Reconcile Subjection

Book:The Landmark Thucydides

Source: The Landmark Thucydides

“A private man, however successful in his own dealing, if his country perish is involved in her destruction; but if he be an unprosperous citizen of a prosperous city, he is much more likely to recover. Seeing, then, that States can bear the misfortunes of individuals, but individuals cannot bear the misfortunes of States, let us all stand by our country.”

Ifs Men Country States Individual Cities Successful Seeing Bears Citizens Involved Destruction Our Country Patriotism Misfortunes Prosperous

Author:Thucydides

“It is men who make a city, not walls or ships.”

Men Cities Wall Travel Ships

Author:Thucydides

“In a word I claim that our city as a whole is an education to Greece.”

Whole Cities Education Claims Greece

Book:The History of the Peloponnesian War

Source: The History of the Peloponnesian War

About the Author

Born: 460 BC
Died: 395 BC
Known for: Historian
Quotes: 137

Books & Sources

The Landmark ThucydidesRelated source material

Delphi Complete Works of Thucydides (Illustrated)Related source material

History of the Peloponnesian WarRelated source material

History of GreeceRelated source material

The History of the Peloponnesian WarRelated source material

Athens at warRelated source material

The Speeches of PericlesRelated source material

History of the Peloponnesian War: A CompanionRelated source material

How to Think about War: An Ancient Guide to Foreign PolicyRelated source material

The Best of Thucydides: Fifteen Extracts from Thucydides' "History of the Peloponnesian War"Related source material

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