is derived from the greed of money, or the need to be successful, or the need to have revenge. The source of all this evil is the love of power originating in avarice and ambition. The party spirit was endangered because of this, as men were constantly contesting against each other. This revolution gave birth to every form of wickedness in the city of Hellas. The simplicity, which is so large an element in a noble nature, is laughed at and disappears. Words are no longer binding enough, neither is an oath terrible enough to reconcile enemies. Every man must look to his own safety, and cannot afford to trust others. These social tendencies are also shown today. Greed of men and the need to rise to power is still not below people’s way of thinking even in the present. Thucydides explains that Athenians believe in gods, but he knows that men, by law of their nature, will rule wherever they can rule. Johnson describes Thucydides view: “This rule is not made by man, and the Athenians are not the first who act upon it. Men do inherit the rule, and it shall be so for all time. And men know that all mankind, if they are as strong as the Athenians, will do as they did” (qtd. Johnson 122). Thucydides is obviously accurate about men inheriting this rule of power even now. Evidence of this is shown all around the world today. Even small children are authorities over other children if they are permitted to be. This nature of men to rule others often leads to war, or perhaps discord. Plato explains the difference in the names “discord” and “war,” and also the difference in the nature of the two. Plato quotes, “discord is expressive of what is internal and domestic, whereas war pertains to what is external and foreign. The Hellenic race is united together by ties of blood and friendship, but this philosophy is alien and strange to the Spartans. Therefore, when Athenians fight with Spa...
