Quotes from book
Histories

HerodotusOriginal title Ἱστορίαι

The Histories of Herodotus is considered the founding work of history in Western literature. Written in 440 BC in the Ionic dialect of classical Greek, The Histories serves as a record of the ancient traditions, politics, geography, and clashes of various cultures that were known in Western Asia, Northern Africa and Greece at that time. Although not a fully impartial record, it remains one of the West's most important sources regarding these affairs. Moreover, it established the genre and study of history in the Western world .


Herodotus photo

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

Herodotus book Histories

Book 7, Ch. 50 (trans. George Rawlinson)
Variant translation: It is better by noble boldness to run the risk of being subject to half of the evils we anticipate than to remain in cowardly listlessness for fear of what might happen.
The Histories

Herodotus photo
Herodotus photo
Herodotus photo
Herodotus photo

“Force has no place where there is need of skill.”

Herodotus book Histories

Book 3, Ch. 127.
The Histories

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“From great wrongdoing there are great punishments from the gods.”

Herodotus book Histories

Book 2, Ch. 120.
The Histories

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“My men have turned into women and my women into men!”

Herodotus book Histories

Book 8, Ch. 98.
The Histories

Herodotus photo
Herodotus photo

“It is the gods' custom to bring low all things of surpassing greatness.”

Herodotus book Histories

Book 7 , Ch. 10.
The Histories

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“It was a kind of Cadmean victory.”

Herodotus book Histories

Book 1, Ch. 166, refering to a victory where both sides suffer extreme losses. Derived from the legends of Thebes, where the sons of Oedipus, and hence descendants of Cadmus, fought to the death.
The Histories

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“When life is so burdensome death has become a sought after refuge.”

Herodotus book Histories

Book 7, Ch. 46.
The Histories

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“Although he had plenty of troops he did not have many men.”

Herodotus book Histories

Book 7, Ch. 210.
The Histories

Herodotus photo
Herodotus photo

“Circumstances rule men; men do not rule circumstances.”

Herodotus book Histories

Book 7, Ch. 49.
The Histories

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“At sea your men will be as far inferior to Greeks as women are to men.”

Herodotus book Histories

By Artemisa, the best persian warrior in Salamina, a very courageous woman. A superbe irony!
Book 8, Ch. 68.
The Histories