Very on point: “The leaders in the cities, each provided with the fairest professions, on the one side with the cry of political equality of the people, on the other of a moderate aristocracy, sought prizes for themselves in those public interests which they pretended to cherish, and, recoiling from no means in their struggles for ascendancy, engaged in the direct excesses; in their acts of vengeance they went to even greater lengths, not stopping at what justice or the good of the state demanded, but making the party caprice of the moment their only standard, and invoking with equal readiness the condemnation of an unjust verdict or the authority of the strong arm to glut the animosities of the hour. Thus religion was in honor with neither party; but the use of fair phrases to arrive at guilty ends was in high reputation. Meanwhile the moderate part of the citizens perished between the two, either for not joining in the quarrel, or because envy would not suffer them to escape.“
Take a look at Book 3, chapter 82 on the shocking flexibility and changeability of the meaning of words and language during a period of political crisis.
He's quoting a Dead Wise Man. Does Thucydides being white (that also depends on your definition of white; he was Greek) invalidate what he said? Also, what he said is utterly pertinent to the current situation. If you have an equally relevant and wise quote from a Non-White Person, please share it with us.
As an aside, Socrates lived at the same time as Thucydides. I.F. Stone's "The Trial of Socrates" deals with some of these same events. Socrates (via Plato) emphasized that the biggest virtue was wisdom, and that the most wise should rule. Some of Socrates's best students (most wise) became rulers and were vicious and vile, particularly to their defeated political opponents.
Aristotle (and Stone), with the benefit of that recent history, emphasized character as a more important virtue. Stone was good with Socrates drinking the hemlock!
Sure, Matt.
All best,
Art
Very on point: “The leaders in the cities, each provided with the fairest professions, on the one side with the cry of political equality of the people, on the other of a moderate aristocracy, sought prizes for themselves in those public interests which they pretended to cherish, and, recoiling from no means in their struggles for ascendancy, engaged in the direct excesses; in their acts of vengeance they went to even greater lengths, not stopping at what justice or the good of the state demanded, but making the party caprice of the moment their only standard, and invoking with equal readiness the condemnation of an unjust verdict or the authority of the strong arm to glut the animosities of the hour. Thus religion was in honor with neither party; but the use of fair phrases to arrive at guilty ends was in high reputation. Meanwhile the moderate part of the citizens perished between the two, either for not joining in the quarrel, or because envy would not suffer them to escape.“
“Thus religion was in honor with neither party; but the use of fair phrases to arrive at guilty ends was in high reputation.“
This conjured images of Liz Cheney and Adam Schiff in my mind. Thanks a lot, Thucydides.
Take a look at Book 3, chapter 82 on the shocking flexibility and changeability of the meaning of words and language during a period of political crisis.
There you go again. Quoting Dead White Men.
He's quoting a Dead Wise Man. Does Thucydides being white (that also depends on your definition of white; he was Greek) invalidate what he said? Also, what he said is utterly pertinent to the current situation. If you have an equally relevant and wise quote from a Non-White Person, please share it with us.
You still stumble through the wilderness, Matt. Climbing through the brambles instead of allowing yourself to see the trail.
You may never become a Trump lover, but you can eventually see what he really represented.
Thucydides would definitely be on Substack today.
As an aside, Socrates lived at the same time as Thucydides. I.F. Stone's "The Trial of Socrates" deals with some of these same events. Socrates (via Plato) emphasized that the biggest virtue was wisdom, and that the most wise should rule. Some of Socrates's best students (most wise) became rulers and were vicious and vile, particularly to their defeated political opponents.
Aristotle (and Stone), with the benefit of that recent history, emphasized character as a more important virtue. Stone was good with Socrates drinking the hemlock!
Change “character” to “temperament” and I’m on board with Aristotle.