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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.

Thucydides

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Thucydides
Historian
Question
Goes
Suffering
Strong
Power
Right
Equals
Must
Suffer
World
Weak

More quotes by Thucydides

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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.
Thucydides
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In peace and prosperity states and individuals have better sentiments, because they do not find themselves suddenly confronted with imperious necessities but war takes away the easy supply of daily wants and so proves a rough master that brings most men's characters to a level with their fortunes
Thucydides
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It is from the greatest dangers that the greatest glory is to be won.
Thucydides
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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.
Thucydides
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When will there be justice in Athens? There will be justice in Athens when those who are not injured are as outraged as those who are.
Thucydides
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Amassing of wealth is an opportunity for good deeds, not hubris
Thucydides
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The whole earth is the sepulchre of famous men.
Thucydides
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Mankind apparently find it easier to drive away adversity than to retain prosperity.
Thucydides
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speculation is carried on in safety, but, when it comes to action, fear causes failure.
Thucydides
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Three of the gravest failings, want of sense, of courage, or of vigilance.
Thucydides
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It is men who make a city, not walls or ships.
Thucydides
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It is useless to attack men who could not be controlled even if conquered, while failure would leave us in an even worse position.
Thucydides
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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.
Thucydides
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We must not disguise from ourselves that we go to found a city among strangers and enemies, and he who undertakes such an enterprise should be prepared to become master of the country the first day he lands, or failing in this find everything hostile to him.
Thucydides
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And it is certain that those who do not yield to their equals, who keep terms with their superiors, and are moderate towards their inferiors, on the whole succeed best.
Thucydides
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The growth of the power of Athens, and the alarm which this inspired in Sparta, made war inevitable.
Thucydides
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Abstinence from all injustice to other first-rate powers is a greater tower of strength than anything that can be gained by the sacrifice of permanent tranquillity for an apparent temporary advantage.
Thucydides
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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.
Thucydides
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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
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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.
Thucydides