Quote by Thucydides: “The cause of all these evils was the lust for power arising from greed and ambition.”

This quote identifies the root causes of conflict and moral decline as an insatiable desire for power, fueled by personal greed and relentless ambition. It suggests that these human flaws corrupt individuals and societies, leading to widespread suffering and societal breakdown, echoing the destructive nature of unchecked desires.

Thucydides observed the profound moral and social decay that accompanied the Peloponnesian War, especially during the Corcyraean Revolution. He attributed much of the violence and chaos to the breakdown of traditional values and the rise of unrestrained self-interest and political ambition.

Athenian general and historian who lived approximately 460–400 BCE and wrote The History of the Peloponnesian War. He is considered the first truly analytical historian, distinguishing between cause and pretext and prioritizing evidence over mythology. His work profoundly shaped how we understand war and politics.