What made the war inevitable was the growth of Athenian power and the fear which this caused in Sparta.

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.

It is the habit of mankind to entrust to careless hope what they long for, and to use sovereign reason to thrust aside what they do not desire

In a word I claim that our city as a whole is an education to Greece.

...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.

It is frequently a misfortune to have very brilliant men in charge of affairs. They expect too much of ordinary men.

And where the rewards for merit are greatest, there are found the best citizens.