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For men naturally despise those who court them, but respect those who do not give way to them.

Thucydides

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Thucydides
Historian
Respect
Religious
Give
Giving
Way
Men
Despise
Naturally
Court

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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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Three of the gravest failings, want of sense, of courage, or of vigilance.
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I have often before now been convinced that a democracy is incapable of empire.
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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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... Athenians are addicted to innovation. They are daring beyond their judgment they toil on with little opportunity for enjoying, being ever engaged in getting, they were born into the world to take no rest themselves, and to give none to others.
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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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The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding go out to meet it.
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If it had not been for the pernicious power of envy, men would not so have exalted vengeance above innocence and profit above justice... in these acts of revenge on others, men take it upon themselves to begin the process of repealing those general laws of humanity which are there to give a hope of salvation to all who are in distress.
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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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Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly the perils of war.
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The growth of the power of Athens, and the alarm which this inspired in Sparta, made war inevitable.
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Knowledge without understanding is useless.
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He passes through life most securely who has least reason to reproach himself with complaisance toward his enemies.
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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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Human nature is the one constant through human history. It is always there.
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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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Hope, danger's comforter
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Amassing of wealth is an opportunity for good deeds, not hubris
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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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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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