Polybius Quotes

If history is deprived of the Truth, we are left with nothing but an idle, unprofitable tale.

Monarchy degenerates into tyranny, aristocracy into oligarchy, and democracy into savage violence and chaos.

A good general not only sees the way to victory; he also knows when victory is impossible.

All things are subject to decay and change.

Nor ought we ever to allow any growing power to acquire such a degree of strength as to be able to tear from us, without resistance, our natural, undisputed rights.

The government will take the fairest of names, but the worst of realities--mob rule.

[There can be no] rational administration of government when good men are held in the same esteem as bad ones.

Knowing how to win is the first step. We must also know how to make use of our victories.

Those who know how to win are much more numerous than those who know how to make proper use of their victories.

When the ancients said a work well begun was half done, they meant to impress the importance of always endeavoring to make a good beginning.

The mob is easily led and may be moved by the smallest force, so that its agitations have a wonderful resemblance to those of the sea.

For peace, with justice and honor, is the fairest and most profitable of possessions, but with disgrace and shameful cowardice, it is the most infamous and harmful of all.

We can profit only by our own misfortunes and those of others. The former, though they may be the more beneficial, are also the more painful; let us turn, then, to the latter.

On any occasion when one can discover the cause of events, one should not resort to the gods.

There is no witness so dreadful, no accuser so terrible as the conscience that dwells in the heart of every man.

Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal while others on the contrary obtain a victory by exerting at the last moment more vigorous efforts than before.