Classics ~ Sayings ~ Thucydides

THUCYDIDES

κτῆμά τε ἐς αἰεὶ μᾶλλον ἢ ἀγώνισμα ἐς τὸ παραχρῆμα ἀκούειν ξύγκειται.

And it is composed as a possession for ever, rather than as a prize-essay to listen to for the moment.

Book 1, 22.4

ἄλλοις μὲν γὰρ χρήματά ἐστι πολλὰ καὶ νῆες καὶ ἵπποι, ἡμῖν δὲ ξύμμαχοι ἀγαθοί.

For others have a lot of money and ships and horses, but we have good allies.

Book 1, 86.3

ἥδε ἡ ἡμέρα τοῖς Ἥλλησι μεγάλων κακῶν ἄρξει.

This day will be the beginning of great ills for the Greeks.

Book 2, 12.4

φιλοκαλοῦμέν τε γάρ μετ' εὐτελείας καὶ φιλοσοφοῦμεν ἄνευ μαλακίας.

For we cultivate a taste for the beautiful with economy, and cultivate knowledge without effeminacy.

Book 2, 40.1

ἀνδρῶν γὰρ ἐπιφανῶν πᾶσα γῆ τάφος.

For the whole earth is the sepulchre of famous men.

Book 2, 43.3

δίκαια μὲν ἐν τῷ ἀνθρωπείῳ λόγῳ ἀπὸ τῆς ἴσης ἀνάγκης κρίνεται, δυνατὰ δὲ οἱ προύχοντες πράσσουσι καὶ οἱ ἀσθενεῖς συγχωροῦσιν.

In the discussion of human affairs, questions of justice only arise when there is equal power to enforce it, while the strong exact what they can and the weak concede what they must.

Book 5, 89

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