Herodotus (c.485–425 BCE) was a Greek historian. Considered the first great European historian, he is the first Greek writer who succeeded in writing an extensive historical narrative that has survived the passage of time.
Born in Halicarnassus, a Greek colony on the coast of Asia Minor, now Bodrum in Turkey, Herodotus traveled widely in Asia Minor and the Middle East when the colonies were freed from the Persian yoke. In 443 BCE, he joined the colony of Thurii, from where he visited Sicily and Lower Italy.
On his travels, Herodotus collected historical, geographical, ethnological, mythological, and archaeological material for his excellent narrative history. Beginning with the subjugation of the Greek colonies in Asia Minor by the Lydian King, Croesus, he wrote an account of Lydia, Persia, Babylon, and Egypt.
Herodotus’s History of the Greco-Persian Wars is the first great narrative history produced in the ancient world. It remains the leading source of information about the struggle of Greece against the Persian Empire in the Persian Wars of 550–479 BCE. It also provides an insight into the Mediterranean world of western Asia and Egypt at that time.
Herodotus is respected for the skill and honesty with which he built up his elaborate and mostly dependable descriptions. He was the first to make the events of the past the topic of research and verification, and Cicero and others have named him “the father of history.”
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Herodotus
But I like not these great successes of yours; for I know how jealous are the gods.
—Herodotus
The destiny of man is in his own soul.
—Herodotus
Topics: Soul, Self-reliance, Confidence, Destiny
Men trust their ears less than their eyes.
—Herodotus
Topics: Trust
Where wisdom is called for, force is of little use.
—Herodotus
Topics: Wisdom
It is said that as many days as there are in the whole journey, so many are the men and horses that stand along the road, each horse and man at the interval of a days journey; and these are stayed neither by snow nor rain nor heat nor darkness from accomplishing their appointed course with all speed.
—Herodotus
It is better by a noble boldness to run the risk of being subject to half of the evils we anticipate, than to remain in cowardly listlessness for fear of what may happen.
—Herodotus
Topics: Purpose, Fear, Courage
Haste in every business brings failure.
—Herodotus
Topics: Failure
The worst pain a man can suffer: to have insight into much and power over nothing.
—Herodotus
Topics: Suffering
Men’s fortunes are on a wheel, which in its turning suffers not the same man to prosper for ever.
—Herodotus
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Hippocrates Ancient Greek Physician
Lucian Greek Satirical Writer
Sophocles Ancient Greek Dramatist
Euripides Ancient Greek Dramatist
Heraclitus Ancient Greek Philosopher
Aeschylus Greek Poet
Anaxagoras Greek Philosopher
Protagoras Ancient Greek Philosopher