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Now the only sure basis of an alliance is for each party to be equally afraid of the other

Thucydides

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Thucydides
Historian
Equally
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Alliances

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Mankind apparently find it easier to drive away adversity than to retain prosperity.
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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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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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The secret of happiness is freedom and the secret of freedom is courage.
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So little trouble do men take in the search after truth so readily do they accept whatever comes first to hand.
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Human nature is the one constant through human history. It is always there.
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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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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 whole earth is the sepulchre of famous men.
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We Greeks are lovers of the beautiful, yet simple in our tastes, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness.
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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.
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Knowledge without understanding is useless.
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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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He passes through life most securely who has least reason to reproach himself with complaisance toward his enemies.
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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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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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...knowing the secret of happiness to be freedom, and the secret of freedom a brave heart, not idly to stand aside from the enemy's onset.
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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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speculation is carried on in safety, but, when it comes to action, fear causes failure.
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