I could read this book for the rest of my life and learn.
Power and empire:
“For the true
author of the subjugation of a people is not so much the immediate agent, as
the power which is able to prevent it, yet permits it.” (Thucydides, 1943,
p.56).
Athens role in
fighting Persia: “But we left behind us a city that was a city no longer, and
staked our lives for a city that had an existence only in desperate hope, and
so bore our ful share in your deliverance and in ours.” (Thucydides, 1943, p.61).
“Men seem to resent injustice more than
violence; the former is regarded as unfair advantage taken by an equal, the
latter is compulsion applied by a superior.” (Thucydides, 1943, p.63).
“war is a matter
not so much of arms as of money, which makes arms of use. This is more than
ever true in a struggle between a continental and a maritime power. First,
then, let us provide money, and not allow ourselves to be carried away by the
talk of our allies before we have done so.” (Thucydides, 1943, p.66).
“If we undertake
the war without preparation we should only delay its conclusion by hastening
its commencement.” (Thucydides, 1943, p.66).
“It is not in
Attica that the war will be decided, as some imagine, but in the countries by
which Attica is supported.” (Thucydides, 1943, p.147).
wise moderation:
“we are not
carried away by the pleasure of hearing ourselves cheered on to risks which our
judgment condemns.” (Thucydides, 1943, p.66).
“in fact, they (brave
men) are neither intoxicated by their success in war, nor disposed to take an
injury for the sake of the delightful tranquility of peace. Indeed, to falter
for the sake of such delights is, if you remain inactive, the quickest way of
losing the sweets of repose to which you cling.” (Thucydides, 1943, p.70).
“The confidence
with which we form our schemes is never completely justified in their
execution; we plan in safety, but when it comes to action, fear causes us to
fail.” (Thucydides, 1943, p.71).
The Athenian attitude:
“A scheme unexecuted
is with them (the Athenians) a positive loss, a successful enterprise a
comparative failure. If they fail in some attempt, they compensate for the
miscarriage by conceiving new hopes; unike other people, with them to hope is
to have, so quick are they to put an idea into practice. They toil on in
trouble and danger all the days of their life, with little opportunity for
enjoying, ever engaged in getting.” (Thucydides, 1943, p.58).
Pericles: “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 degradation to make no effort to overcome. (…)
We differ from other states in regarding the man who holds aloof from public
life not as “quiet” but as useless. (…) not that words and deeds go ill
together, but that acts are foredoomed to failure when undertaken undiscussed. For
we are noted for being at once most adventurous in action and most reflective
beforehand. (…) But the bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision
of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding go out
and meet it.” (Thucydides, 1943, p.113).
“Remember that to
lose what one has got is more disgraceful than to be balked in getting.” (Thucydides,
1943, p.127).
“The secret of
this was their general extraordinary success, which made them confuse their strength
with their hopes.” (Thucydides, 1943, p.227). “for it is a habit of mankind to entrust
to careless hope what they long for, and to use reason arbitrarily to thrust
aside what they do not fancy.” (Thucydides, 1943, p.242).
Pericles on democracy:
“Our constitution
is named a democracy, because it is in the hands not of the few but of the
many. But our laws secure equal justice for all in their private disputes, and
our public opinion welcomes and honors talent in every branch of achievement,
not for any sectional reason but on grounds of excellence alone. And as we give
free play to all in our public life, so we carry the same spirit into our daily
relations with one another. We have no black looks or angry words for our neighbor
if he enjoys himself in his own way, and we abstain from the little acts of
churlishness which, though they leave no mark, yet cause annoyance to whoso
notes them. Open and friendly in our private intercourse in our public acts we
keep strictly within the control of law. We acknowledge the restraint of
reverence; we are obedient to whomsoever is set in authority, and to the laws,
more especially to those which offer protection to the oppressed and those
unwritten ordinances whose transgression brings admitted shame.” (Thucydides, 1943,
p.112).
The role of advisers in the democracy
“Pericles, by his
rank, ability and known integrity, was able to exercise an independent control
over the masses – to lead them instead of being led by them; for as he never
sought power to improper means, he was never compelled to flatter them.” (Thucydides,
1943, p.130).
“a wise city, without over-distinguishing its best
advisers, will nevertheless not deprive them of their due, and far from
punishing unlucky counsellor will not even regard him as disgraced. In this way
successful orators will be least tempted to sacrifice their convictions to
popularity.” (Thucydides, 1943, p.165).
“Besides the hand
of Heaven must be borne with resignation, that of the enemy with fortitude.” (Thucydides,
1943, p.128).
“Words changed
their ordinary meaning and were construed in new senses. Reckless daring passed
for the courage of a loyal partisan, far-sighted hesitation was the excuse of a
coward, moderation was the pretext of the unmanly, the power to see all sides
of a question was complete inability to act. Impulsive rashness was held the
mark of a man, caution in conspiracy was a specious excuse for avoiding action.”
(Thucydides, 1943, p.190).
How to bring peace
The Spartans to Athens
after the latter win a Pylos: “Men of few words where many are not wanted, we
can be less brief when there is a matter of importance to be illustrated and an
end to be served by its illustration. Meanwhile we beg you to take what we may
say, not in a hostile spirit, nor as if we thought you ignorant and wished to
lecture you, but rather as a suggestion on the best course to be taken,
addressed to intelligent critics. You can now, if you choose, employ your
present success to advantage, so as to keep what you have got and gain honor
and reputation besides, and you can avoid the mistake of those who meet with an
extraordinary piece of good fortune, and are led on by hope to grasp
continually at something further, because they have had an unexpected success.”
(Thucydides, 1943, p.206).
“Indeed if great
enmities are ever to be really settled, we think it will be, not by the system
of revenge and military success, and by forcing an opponent to swear to a
treaty to his disadvantage, but when the more fortunate combatant waives these
his privileges, is guided by gentler feelings, conquers his rival in generosity,
and accords peace on more moderate conditions than were expected. From that
moment, instead of the debt of revenge which violence must entail, his
adversary owes a debt of generosity to be paid in kind, and is inclined by
honour to stand to his agreement.” (Thucydides, 1943, p.207).
On strategy
“the surest
method of harming an enemy is to find out what he most fears, and to choose
this means of attacking him, for everyone naturally knows best the weak points
which he has most to fear.” (Thucydides, 1943, p.326).
“they cut down their prows, to make them more
solid, and added thick catheads, and from these let stays into the vessel’s
side for a length of nine feet within and without. (…) the Athenian vessels
which were not as strongly built, but were slight in the bows (this suited the
Athenian tactics of sailing round and charging the enemy’s flank instead of
meeting him prow to prow). (…) The Athenians, if repulsed, would not be able to
back water in any direction except towards the shore and that only for a short
way, and in the small space in front of their own camp. The rest of the harbor would
be commanded by the Syracusans. (…) Having determined on tactics to suit their
skill and strength.” (Thucydides, 1943, p.353).
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