Thucydides, an Athenian, wrote the history of the war between the Peloponnesians and the Athenians, he began at the moment that it broke out, believing that it would be a great war, and more memorable than any that had preceded it.

...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.

I think the two things most opposed to good counsel are haste and passion; haste usaully goes hand in hand with folly, passion with coarseness and narrowness of mind.

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.

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.

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.

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