Having just read "War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning", this book served as a nice companion piece, looking at some similar issues of the cost of war, but also expanding the discussion to look at how crippling a war can be for the involved empires. Athens was able to recover culturally, but never returned to the level of power it had before the war, while Sparta just continued to decline. Should I have put a [SPOILER ALERT:] there?

I read the abridged version because that was all the NYPL had, but it that's ok because I don't think I needed any more of the book. If I return to this subject, it will probably be with Donald Kagan's contemporary version.

This is a great book. The introductory essay alone is worth the read. Thucydides was an interesting character in Athenian history. He either had a very modern view of political and military theory or ours is very antiquated. It is relative. However, there is no denying that we can draw parallels between Athens' quarrels and political and social debates in 412 B.C.E. and American issues that are being debated in 2010. Thucydides was theorizing about elements of fascism before the term had even been created. Very good book. As with much of Greek history the speeches are re-created by Thucydides which often leaves more questions about his views and what was really said. But this is a great book for the historian that is familiar with theory, but has not had much background in Greek history. A must read.

i had to read sections of this for class and i will say that the sections i read were very easy to follow. i was honestly impressed at the ease i had reading some of the speeches and such.

my favorite one that i think everyone should read because it’s genuinely an amazing speech is pericles’ funeral oration. this one speech has been used as inspiration by three united states presidents, most recently by barack obama. (just a cool fact i learned in class) if you ever get the chance, read at least that.

I have to admit I was slightly intimidated by this book so I kept putting off reading it. When I finally got around to reading it, I was surprised to find that, while it could be dense and slow going at times, it wasn't that hard to understand. I especially enjoyed reading about the Athenian defeat in during their Sicilian Expedition.

A bit hard to get into, but once I took some notes in class and understood who was who and what was what, it was actually very interesting. Or I'm just a super nerd. Probably both.

Definitely a book! Thanks phil 127 for making me not enjoy greeks!

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Thucydides seems to hold that the main object of politics is stability and the avoidance of civil strife p. xxv
The observance of traditional laws and the cultivation of traditional virtues -- including a moderate respect for the laws of one's neighbors -- these would be enough to keep the wickedness in check. p. xxx
All of Greece used to carry arms, you see, because houses were unfenced and travel was unsafe, and so they became accustomed to living every day with weapons, as foreigners do. p.4
Speech of Athenians Before you go to war, you must realize how unpredictable war is. The longer it lasts the more it is likely to turn on chance. The odds of disaster are the same for both sides, and no one can see where the dangers lie. p. 25 ******
Speech Archidamus I have seen too many wars, Lacedaemonians, (and so have you, if you're my age) to have any desire for the business out of that ignorance beleif, to which ordinary people succumb, that war is safe and good. p. 25
Pericles I know the passion that leads people into war does not last when they're actually engaged in it; people change their minds with the circumstances. p. 31
Pericles Funeral orat. For the love of honor is the one thing that never grows old, and useless old age takes delight not in gathering wealth (as some say), but in being honored. p. 45
What heaven sends we must bear with a sense of necessity, what the enemy does to us we must bear with courage. p. 55
Diodotus nothing is more contrary to good judgment than these two -- haste and anger. p. 71

of what i read of it, i enjoyed a lot

We are lovers of nobility with restraint, and lovers of wisdom without any softening of character.

read for intellectual heritage ii

this book is great.

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