The Peloponnesian War

by Thucydides

The Spartan constitution has remained unchanged for somewhat over four hundred years dating to the end of this war—a source of strength, enabling their political intervention in other states.

men always think that any war they are engaged in is the greatest of all wars,

It may be that the lack of a romantic element in my history will make it less of a pleasure to the ear: but I shall be content if it is judged useful by those who will want to have a clear understanding of what happened—and, such is the human condition, will happen again at some time in the same or a similar pattern.

‘Spartans, I am old enough myself to be experienced in many 80 wars, and I see some of you here of the same age: none of them will share the longing for war felt by most who have never known the reality, nor will they think that there is any virtue or security in war.

We are not schooled in that useless over-intelligence which can make a brilliant verbal attack on the enemies’ plans but fail to match it in consequent action.

You have it from your fathers that success is born from hardship, and you should not change that ethic even if you are now a little in advance of them in wealth and power: what was gained in poverty should not be lost in prosperity.

No one was prepared to persevere in what had once been thought the path of honour, as they could well be dead before that destination was reached. Immediate pleasure, and any means profitable to that end, became the new honour and the new value. No fear of god or human law was any constraint. Pious or impious made no difference in their view, when they could see all dying without distinction.