Category Archives: Polybius

The Test

“In private life, if you wish to pass judgement on the characters of good or of bad men, you would not, assuming that your opinion is to be subjected to a genuine test, examine their actions only at periods of … Continue reading

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History As a Good or Bad Medicine

“In the same way political history is also made up of three parts.  The first consists of the industrious study and collation of documents; the second is topographical and includes the survey of cities, places, rivers, harbours, and in general … Continue reading

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The Special Function of History

“Now the special function of history, particularly in relation to speeches, is first of all to discover the words actually used, whatever they were, and next to establish the reason why a particular action or argument failed or succeeded.  The … Continue reading

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History and the Truth

“Now in other spheres of human life we should perhaps not rule out such partiality.  A good man ought to love his friends and his country, and should share both their hatreds and their loyalties. But once a man takes … Continue reading

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