Xenophon of Athens, unknown date

"Now, however, that they have abruptly ended the truce, there is an end also to their own insolence and to our suspicion. All these good things of theirs are now set as prizes for the combatants. To whichsoever of us shall prove the better men, will they fall as guerdons; and the Gods themselves are the judges of the strife. The Gods, who full surely will be on our side, seeing it is our enemies who have taken their names falsely; whilst we, with much to lure us, yet for our oath's sake, and the Gods who were our witnesses, sternly held aloof. So that, it seems to me, we have a right to enter upon this contest with much more heart than our foes; and further, we are possessed of bodies more capable than theirs of bearing cold and heat and labour; souls too we have, by the help of heaven, better and braver; nay, the men themselves are more vulnerable, more mortal, than ourselves, if so be the Gods vouchsafe to give us victory once again."

-Xenophon of Athens, Anabasis: Book 3 Chapter 1

Xenophon. Kgl. Museum, Berlin. Bibliothek des allgemeinen und praktischen Wissens. Bd. 5" (1905), Abriß der Weltliteratur, Seite 46.

Source:

 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xenophon.jpg

 

Quote:

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Anabasis/Book_3/Chapter_1