Title page from The English Works, vol. VIII (The Peloponnesian War Part I)

Part of: English Works of Thomas Hobbes, 11 vols. The English Works, vol. VIII (The Peloponnesian War Part I)

Vol. 1 of Hobbes’ translation. Thucydides was one of the greatest of the ancient Greek historians because of his attention to accurate research. His account of the 5th century BC struggle between Athens and Sparta is one of the first works of history to combine political and ethical reflections with history writing.

Key Quotes

Presidents, Kings, Tyrants, & Despots

The cause of all this is desire of rule, out of avarice and ambition; and the zeal of contention from those two proceeding. For such as were of authority in the cities, both of the one and the other faction, preferring under decent titles, one the political equality of the multitude, the other the…