History of the Peloponnesian War

"And as for the slowness and dilatoriness which they most blame in us, be not ashamed of them. For by hurrying [to begin the war] you would be the more slow in finishing it because you took it in hand when unprepared:

and at the same time we always enjoy a city that is free and most glorious; and it is a wise moderation that can best constitute this. For owing to it we alone do not grow insolent in success, and yield less than others to misfortunes. We are not excited by the pleasure afforded by those who with praise stimulate us to dangers contrary to our conviction; and if any one provoke us with accusation, we are not the more prevailed on through being thus annoyed.

We are both warlike and wise through our orderly temper: warlike, because shame partakes very largely of moderation, and courage of shame; and wise, because we are brought up with too little learning to despise the laws, and with too severe a self-control to disobey them; and are not over-clever in useless things, so that while in word we might ably find fault with our enemies' resources, we should not go against them so well in deed; [*]( Or, should not so well follow up our words with deeds. —The following infinitive νομίζειν depends upon παιδευόμενοι understood again.)

but are taught to think that our neighbours' plans, [*]( I have followed the punctuation and interpretation of Göller and Arnold in their last edition; though not with a perfect conviction of its correctness, as I doubt whether the τε has any place before παραπλησίους και taken in this sense. But see Göller's note.—According to Haack and Poppo it would be, that our neighbours' plans are very similar to our own, and that the chances of war, etc.) and the chances which befall in war, are very similar as things not admitting of nice distinction in language. But we always provide in deed against our adversaries with the expectation of their planning well and must not rest our hopes on the probability of their blundering, but on the belief our own taking cautious forethought. Again, we should not think that one man differs much from another, but that he is the best who is educated in the most necessary things.