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Quote by Thucydides

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

Author

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. more

“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?”

Knows Mean Doe War Night Certain Knowing Goes On Army Notion Neighborhood Engagement Great Army

Book:The Landmark Thucydides

Source: The Landmark 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.”

Want Two Character Energy Differences Successful Wide Opponents Enterprise Empires Athens Slowness Athenians Maritime

Book:The history of the Peloponnesian War: illustrated with maps from the 1820 Oxford edition

Source: The history of the Peloponnesian War: illustrated with maps from the 1820 Oxford edition

“On the whole, however, the conclusions I have drawn from the proofs quoted may, I believe, safely be relied on. Assuredly they will not be disturbed either by the lays of a poet displaying the exaggeration of his craft, or by the compositions of the chroniclers that are attractive at truth's expense; the subjects they treat of being out of the reach of evidence, and time having robbed most of them of historical value by enthroning them in the region of legend.”