Quotes from book
Histories

Herodotus Original 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
Herodotus photo
Herodotus photo
Herodotus photo

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

Book 3, Ch. 127.
The Histories

Herodotus photo

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

Book 2, Ch. 120.
The Histories

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“I know that human happiness never remains long in the same place.”

Book 1, Ch.5.
The Histories

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

Book 8, Ch. 98.
The Histories

Herodotus photo
Herodotus photo

“It was a kind of Cadmean victory.”

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.”

Book 7, Ch. 46.
The Histories

Herodotus photo

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

Book 7, Ch. 210.
The Histories

Herodotus photo
Herodotus photo

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

Book 7, Ch. 49.
The Histories

Herodotus photo

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

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