Quotessence
Home / Authors / Thucydides
Thucydides

Thucydides Quotes

Historian

Filter quotes by topic

AllMenWarFirstsIfsDangerEnemyActionCausesKnowsThinkingAcceptingHumansMilitaryPeopleAtheniansBelieveCitiesCourageGivingGlory

Famous Thucydides Quotes

“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.”

ThinkingMenBelieveSchoolLyingBeliefDifferencesEnemyPracticePlansOughtPreparationAssumptionSuperiorityProvisionBlundersSoundness
Book:The Landmark Thucydides
Create image

“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.”

IfsThinkingLooksLittlesWishEnemyIssuesParticularNotionHarmSelfishConsiderationNeglectDecayVengeanceLittle TimeLegislatorsCommonwealth
Author:Thucydides
Create image

“In general, the men of lower intelligence won out. Afraid of their own shortcomings and of the intelligence of their opponents, so that they would not lose out in reasoned argument or be taken by surprise by their quick-witted opponents, they boldly moved into action. Their enemies,on the contrary, contemptuous and confident in their ability to anticipate, thought there was no need to take by action what they could win by their brains.”

MenNeedsActionWinningLosesAbilityBrainEnemyTakenHe ManArgumentMovedSurpriseContraryOpponentsAnticipateShortcomingsContemptuousQuick Witted
Author:Thucydides
Create image