Central Themes:Justice: Theodicy(godly justice) How god can exist while suffering does, too.Power: Gods power, mans power over other men(POLITICS)Hospitality: OdysseyTruth/Knowledge: Mans search for itAppearance vs. RealityHonor&ShameHuman NatureAs for what is called honour, no one showed himself willing to abide by its law, so doubtful was it whether one would survive to enjoy the name for it.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites-Narration, during Plague in Athens.(Honor&Shame)We should realize that a city is better off with bad laws, so long as they remain fixed, than with good laws that are constantly being altered.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites-Cleon, in Mytelenian debateNot even here, on native soil, would yo give upThose wily tales that warm the cockles of your heart!Odyssey, Homer- Athena to Odysseus (He tried lying to her and she saw through him)(Appearance)Our opinion of the gods and our knowledge of men lead us to conclude that it is a general and necessary law of nature to rule whatever one can.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Athenian Delegate, in Melian Dialogue

To the life hes like the son of great Odysseus,Surely hes Telemachus!Odyssey, Homer- Helen to Telemachus. Recognized him before her husband, Meneleus. Appearance/Reality.Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?Bible, Genesis-Abraham to God, talking about Sodom and Gomorrah and sins of few condemning the many.(Justice)He had another dream, and told it to his brother, saying,look, I have had another dream: the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.Bible, Genesis-Joseph to his Brothers. When we surrendered our city to you, we trusted you and we did not expect to face a trial of this sort, but one more in accordance with usual practice.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Plataeans to Spartans after their surrender. (Justice)Theres our secret sign, I tell you, our life story!Does the bed, my lady, still stand planted firm?Odyssey, Homer- Odysseus to Penelope revealing that hes not tricking her. (Appearance&Reality)We have no right, therefore, to judge cities by their appearances rather than by their actual power, and there is no reason why we should not believe that the Trojan expedition was the greatest that had ever taken place.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Narration. Athens would look more powerful than it was were it abandoned, while Sparta would look less powerful than it actually was. (Appearance&Reality)It is better evidence than that of the poets who exaggerate the importance of their themes, or of the prose chroniclers, who are less interested in telling the trut than in catching the attention of their public, whose authorities cannot be checked, and whose subject-matter, owing to the passage of time, is mostly lost in the unreliable streams of mythology.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Narration, Thucydites credits his research as more truthful and reliable than poetry.(Search for Truth)It will be enough for me, however, if these wrds of mine are judged useful by those who want to understand clearly the events which happened in the past and which (human nature being what it is) will, at some time or other and in much the same ways, be repeated in the future.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Narration, human nature is unchanging, says his accounts are able to last forever because humans are likely to repeat history. (Human Nature)When one is deprived of ones liberty, one is right in blaming, not so much the man who puts the fetters on, as the one who had the power to prevent him but did not use itHistory of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Corinthians in Debate at Sparta before Sparta declared war against Athens. (Justice, Power)In our actions at that time we vetured everything for the common good; you have your share in what was gained; do not deprive us of all our share of Glory and of the good that it may do us.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Athenian Delegates at Sparta before their declaration of war. (Justice)We have done nothing extraordinary, nothing contrary to human nature in accepting an empire when it was offered to us and then in refusing to give it up. Three very powerful motives prevent us from doing sosecurity, honour, and self-interest. And we were not the first to act in this way. Far from it. It has always been a rule that the weak should be subject to the strong; and besides, we consider that we are worthy of our power.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Athenian Delegates at Sparta, trying to qualify their reasons for conquering other nations. (Power, Justice, Human Nature)There is no need to suppose that human beings differ very much one from another: but it is true that the ones who come out on top are the ones who have been trained in the hardest school.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- King Archidamus to the Spartans before they declare war. (Knowledge&Power)Wise men certainly choose a quiet life, so long as they are not being attacked; but brave men, when an attack is made on them, will reject peace and go to war, though they will be perfectly ready to come to terms in the course of the war.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Corinthian Delegate at Allied Congress in Sparta describes the qualities necessary to win this war versus the qualities of the Athenians. (Knowledge and Power)War gives peace its security, but one is still not safe from danger if, for the sake of quiet, one refuses to fight.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Corinthian Delegate at Allied Congress in Sparta prompts the Spartans to move to war. (Power)If you give in, you will immediately be confronted with some greater demand, since they will think that you only gave way on this point through fear. But if you take a firm stand you will make it clear to them that they have to treat you properly as equals.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Pericles reply to the Spartan Ultimatum. (Power, Justice)it was by wisdom rather than by good fortune, by daring rather than by material power, that they drove back the foreign invasion and made our city what it is today. We must live up to the standard they setHistory of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Pericles reply to the Spartan Ultimatum to spur the Athenians to react diplomatically to the Spartans and to not declare war. (Power, Honor)We must not, then, fall short of our fathers standards, nor fail to live up to our own reputation.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- King Archidamus speech to the Spartans to spur his troops.(Honor)Think, too, of the glory, or, if events turn out differently, the shame which you will bring to your ancestors and to yourselves, and, with all this in mind, follow your leaders, paying the strictest attention to discipline and to security, giving prompt obedience to the orders which you receive. History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- King Archidamus short speech to the Spartans to prepare his troops to invade Attica. (Honor&Shame)However, the fact is that this institution was set up and approved by our forefathers, and it is my duty to follow the tradition and do my best to meet the wishes and expectations of every one of you.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Pericles funeral oration after the first year of fighting in the Peloponnesian war. (Honor)Let me say that our system of government does not copy the institutions of our neighbours. It is more the case of our being a model to others, than of our imitating anyone else.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Pericles funeral oration, the Athenians rely on honor and shame to keep acting the right way during war, providing comfort to those who lost someone. (Honor/Shame)As for success or failure, they left that in the doubtful hands of Hope, and when the reality of battle was before their faces, they put their trust in their own selves.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites-Pericles funeral oration, describes the situation of those who died from the first year of war. (Reality, Justice)Make up your minds that happiness depends on being free, and freedom depends on being courageous.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Pericles funeral oration, used to comfort those who lost a loved one in the first year of the war. (Honor)Ones sense of honor is the only thing that does not grow old, and the last pleasure, when one is worn out with age, is not, as the poet said, making money, but having the respect of ones fellow men.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Pericles funeral oration, encouraging the Athenians to give respect to those who died in the first year of war because that is the last honor they are rewarded. (Honor)Your great glory is not to be inferior to what God has made you, and the greatest glory of a woman is to be least talked about by men, whether they are praising you or criticizing you.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Pericles funeral oration, encouraging the women who lost sons and husbands and brothers to continue to contribute to their society in womanly ways. (Honor, Power/Patriarchal)Those with naturally strong constitutions were no better able than the weak to resist the disease, which carried away all alike, even those who were treated and dieted with the greatest care.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Narration, the plague. Provides strong contrast in Pericles description of the powerful, honorable society in Athens in his funeral oration right before this. Describes how the plague did not discriminate, there was no foreseeable justice in the plagues selection of victims. (Theodicy, Justice, Power)When, on the other hand, they did visit the sick, they lost their own lives, and this was particularly true of those who made it a point of honour to act properly.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites-Narration, the plague. Contrasts the honor and justice supposedly present in Athens described just before in Pericles funeral oration. Points out the lack of reason or justice in the plagues affliction. (Theodicy, Justice, Power)No fear of god or law of man had a restraining influence.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites-Narration, the plague. Contrasts the justice, honor, and shame that the Athenians were so proud of that Pericles described in his funeral oration. (Justice, Theodicy, Shame&Honor)A man who has the knowledge but lacks the power clearly to express it is no better off than if he never had any ideas at all.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Pericles response to the change in spirit of Athens after Sparta invaded Attica again. The Policy of Pericles. (knowledge, Power)They made up their minds to put might first and right second, choosing the moment when they thought they would win, and then making their unprovoked attack upon us.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Cleons response to the Athenians rethinking their punishment of the Mytilenians for their revolt. (Power, Justice)for it is a general rule of human nature that people despise those who treat them well and look up o those who make no concessions.History of Peloponnesian War, Thucydites- Cleons response to the Athenians rethinking their punishment of the Mytilenians for their revolt. (Justice, human nature, power)