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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
Way
Men
Despise
Naturally
Court
Respect
Religious
Give
Giving

More quotes by Thucydides

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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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Those who have experienced good and bad luck many times have every reason to be skeptical of successes
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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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The superior gratification derived from the use and contemplation of costly and supposedly beautiful products is, commonly, in great measure a gratification of our sense of costliness masquerading under the name of beauty.
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Self-control is the chief element in self-respect, and respect of self, in turn, is the chief element in courage.
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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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Stories happen to those who tell them.
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Human nature is the one constant through human history. It is always there.
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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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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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I have written my work, not as an essay which is to win the applause of the moment, but as a possession for all time
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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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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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Mankind apparently find it easier to drive away adversity than to retain prosperity.
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Indeed men too often take upon themselves in the prosecution of their revenge to set the example of doing away with those general laws to which all can look for salvation in adversity, instead of allowing them to subsist against the day of danger when their aid may be required
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They are surely to be esteemed the bravest spirits who, having the clearest sense of both the pains and pleasures of life, do not on that account shrink from danger.
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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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We secure our friends not by accepting favours but by doing them.
Thucydides
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The secret of freedom, courage.
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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.
Thucydides