167 Quotes by Herodotus

For of those [cities] that were great in earlier times, most of them have now become small, while those which were great in my time were small formerly.

How can a monarchy be a suitable thing, which allows a man to do as he pleases with none to hold him to account. And even if you were to take the best man on earth, and put him into a monarchy, you put outside him the thoughts that usually guide him.

In soft regions are born soft men.

Unless a variety of opinions are laid before us, we have no opportunity of selection, but are bound of necessity to adopt the particular view which may have been brought forward.

In peace children inter their parents, war violates the order of nature and causes parents to inter their children.

The longer the span of someone’s existence, the more certain he is to see and suffer much that he would rather have been spared.

Far better it is to have a stout heart always and suffer one’s share of evils, than to be ever fearing what may happen.

Such was the number of the barbarians, that when they shot forth their arrows the sun would be darkened by their multitude.” Dieneces, not at all frightened at these words, but making light of the Median numbers, answered “Our Trachinian friend brings us excellent tidings. If the Medes darken the sun, we shall have our fight in the shade.

Of all men’s miseries the bitterest is this: to know so much and to have control over nothing.