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Of all manifestations of power, restraint impresses men most.

Thucydides

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Thucydides
Historian
Patience
Politics
Power
Men
Impresses
Manifestations
Restraint
Impress
Manifestation

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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.
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In a word I claim that our city as a whole is an education to Greece.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Now the only sure basis of an alliance is for each party to be equally afraid of the other
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Knowledge without understanding is useless.
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Those who have experienced good and bad luck many times have every reason to be skeptical of successes
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Men's indignation, it seems, is more exited by legal wrong than by violent wrong the first looks like being cheated by an equal, the second like being compelled by a superior.
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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.
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I have often before now been convinced that a democracy is incapable of empire.
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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.
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Human nature is the one constant through human history. It is always there.
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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.
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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.
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The secret of happiness is freedom and the secret of freedom is courage.
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Mankind apparently find it easier to drive away adversity than to retain prosperity.
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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.
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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.
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Men do not rest content with parrying the attacks of a superior, but often strike the first blow to prevent the attack being made.
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