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Indeed it is generally the case that men are readier to call rogues clever than simpletons honest, and are ashamed of being the second as they are proud of being the first.
Thucydides
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Thucydides
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More quotes by Thucydides
The whole earth is the sepulchre of famous men.
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The secret of freedom, courage.
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Of all manifestations of power, restraint impresses men most.
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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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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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Amassing of wealth is an opportunity for good deeds, not hubris
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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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Full of hopes beyond their power though not beyond their ambition.
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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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It is useless to attack men who could not be controlled even if conquered, while failure would leave us in an even worse position.
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For men naturally despise those who court them, but respect those who do not give way to them.
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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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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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we know that there can never be any solid friendship between individuals, or union between communities that is worth the name, unless the parties be persuaded of each others honesty
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I have often before now been convinced that a democracy is incapable of empire.
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War is an evil thing but to submit to the dictation of other states is worse.... Freedom, if we hold fast to it, will ultimately restore our losses, but submission will mean permanent loss of all that we value.... To you who call yourselves men of peace, I say: You are not safe unless you have men of action on your side.
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Three of the gravest failings, want of sense, of courage, or of vigilance.
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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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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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As for democracy, the men of sense among us knew what it was, and I perhaps as well as any, as I have more cause to complain of it but there is nothing new to be said of a patent absurdity-meanwhile we did not think it safe to alter it under the pressure of your hostility.
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