The Peloponnesian War turns out to be no dry chronicle of abstract cause and effect. No, it is above all an intense, riveting, and timeless story of strong and weak men, of heroes and scoundrels and innocents too, all caught in the fateful circumstances of rebellion, plague, and war that always strip away the veneer of culture and show us for what we really are.

For if many ill-conceived plans have succeeded through the still greater lack of judgment of an opponent, many more, apparently well laid, have on the contrary ended in disgrace. The confidence with which we form our schemes is never completely justified in their execution; speculation is carried on in safety, but, when it comes to action, fear causes failure.

Remember that this greatness was won by men with courage, with knowledge of their duty, and with a sense of honor in action.

The strength of an Army lies in strict discipline and undeviating obedience to its officers.

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.

The sufferings that fate inflicts on us should be borne with patience, what enemies inflict with manly courage.

It is useless to attack men who could not be controlled even if conquered, while failure would leave us in an even worse position.