The History of the Peloponnesian War

by Thucydides

So little pains do the vulgar take in the investigation of truth, accepting readily the first story that comes to hand.

war is a matter not so much of arms as of money, which makes arms of use.

since you know as well as we do that 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.