Share
×
Inspirational Quotes
Authors
Professions
Topics
Tags
Quote
Men do not rest content with parrying the attacks of a superior, but often strike the first blow to prevent the attack being made.
Thucydides
Share
Change background
T
T
T
Change font
Original
TAGS & TOPICS
Thucydides
Historian
Made
Attack
Men
Strikes
Content
Blow
Attacks
Rest
Strike
Often
Superior
Firsts
Prevent
First
Superiors
More quotes by Thucydides
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
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
Three of the gravest failings, want of sense, of courage, or of vigilance.
Thucydides
Those who have experienced good and bad luck many times have every reason to be skeptical of successes
Thucydides
It is men who make a city, not walls or ships.
Thucydides
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.
Thucydides
Remember that this greatness was won by men with courage, with knowledge of their duty, and with a sense of honor in action.
Thucydides
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.
Thucydides
The whole earth is the sepulchre of famous men.
Thucydides
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
If you give way, you will instantly have to meet some greater demand, as having been frightened into obedience in the first instance while a firm refusal will make them clearly understand that they must treat you more as equals.
Thucydides
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.
Thucydides
It is from the greatest dangers that the greatest glory is to be won.
Thucydides
The growth of the power of Athens, and the alarm which this inspired in Sparta, made war inevitable.
Thucydides
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.
Thucydides
... 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.
Thucydides
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.
Thucydides
War is a matter not so much of arms as of money.
Thucydides
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
In generosity we are equally singular, acquiring our friends by conferring, not by receiving, favours.
Thucydides
