With reference to the narrative of events, far from permitting myself to derive it from the first source that came to hand, I did not even trust my own impressions, but it rests partly on what I saw myself, partly on what others saw for me, the accuracy of the report always being tried by the most severe and detailed tests possible. My conclusions have cost me some labour from the want of coincidence between accounts of the same occurrences by different eye-witnesses, arising sometimes from imperfect memory, sometimes from undue partiality for one side or the other.
ThucydidesFew things are brought to a successful issue by impetuous desire, but most by calm and prudent forethought.
ThucydidesWhen tremendous dangers are involved, no one can be blamed for looking to his own interest.
Thucydides