Fulkerson, Laurel

DSpace at New York University

The Dangerous Qualities of Hope in Thucydides - Handout 
Laurel Fulkerson, The Florida State University: lfulkerson@fsu.edu 
 
1) First sentence of Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War 1.1.1: [Thucydides the 
Athenian wrote the history of the war fought by the Peloponnesians and the Athenians 
against one another,] beginning at the start of the war and expecting it to be great and more 
worthy of treatment than all that had preceded (ἀρξάμενος εὐθὺς καθισταμένου καὶ ἐλπίσας 
μέγαν τε ἔσεσθαι καὶ ἀξιολογώτατον τῶν προγεγενημένων).   
2) Hesiod Works and Days 96-7: [Pandora opens the jar, and many evils fly out,] but Hope 
alone remained there, in its unbreakable home within the mouth of the jar (μούνη δ’ αὐτόθι 
Ἐλπὶς ἐν ἀρρήκτοισι δόμοισιν/ ἔνδον ἔμεινε πίθου ὑπὸ χείλεσιν). 
3) Generalising statement about hope, Thuc. 4.108.4: Men are wont to entrust what they 
desire to unreflecting hope, and to push aside with sovereign reason what they do not want 
(εἰωθότες οἱ ἄνθρωποι οὗ μὲν ἐπιθυμοῦσιν ἐλπίδι ἀπερισκέπτῳ διδόναι, ὃ δὲ μὴ προσίενται 
λογισμῷ αὐτοκράτορι διωθεῖσθαι).   
4) Corinthians on Athenians, Thuc. 1.70.3 and 7: daring beyond their resources, running 
dangers beyond their judgment, and of good hopes, even in dreadful circumstances (αὖθις δὲ 
οἱ μὲν καὶ παρὰ δύναμιν τολμηταὶ καὶ παρὰ γνώμην κινδυνευταὶ καὶ ἐν τοῖς δεινοῖς 
εὐέλπιδες•)  But if it happens that they miss out on something they have tried, they hope 
again and fill out the loss.  For with them alone are hoping and having the same thing when 
they have put their minds to it, on account of the swiftness with which they take in hand what 
they have decided (ἢν δ’ ἄρα του καὶ πείρᾳ σφαλῶσιν, ἀντελπίσαντες ἄλλα ἐπλήρωσαν τὴν 
χρείαν• μόνοι γὰρ ἔχουσί τε ὁμοίως καὶ ἐλπίζουσιν ἃ ἂν ἐπινοήσωσι διὰ τὸ ταχεῖαν τὴν 
ἐπιχείρησιν ποιεῖσθαι ὧν ἂν γνῶσιν). 
5a: Cleon’s speech, Thuc. 3.39.3: The Mytileneans became bold about the future and 
conceived hopes greater than their resources but less than their desires (γενόμενοι δὲ πρὸς τὸ 
μέλλον θρασεῖς καὶ ἐλπίσαντες μακρότερα μὲν τῆς  δυνάμεως, ἐλάσσω δὲ τῆς βουλήσεως). 
5b) Diodotus’ speech, Thuc. 3.45.1 and 5: But men are inspired by hope to run risks, and 
nobody has ever yet entered into a dreadful situation while convinced that he would not 
succeed (ὅμως δὲ τῇ ἐλπίδι ἐπαιρόμενοι κινδυνεύουσι, καὶ οὐδείς πω καταγνοὺς ἑαυτοῦ μὴ 
περιέσεσθαι τῷ ἐπιβουλεύματι ἦλθεν ἐς τὸ δεινόν).  Hope and desire are everywhere: desire 
leads, hope follows; desire makes a plan and hope makes the path of luck seem easy; these 
two emotions are extremely harmful (ἥ τε ἐλπὶς καὶ ὁ ἔρως ἐπὶ παντί, ὁ μὲν ἡγούμενος, ἡ δ’ 
ἐφεπομένη, καὶ ὁ μὲν τὴν ἐπιβουλὴν ἐκφροντίζων ἡ δὲ τὴν εὐπορίαν τῆς τύχης ὑποτιθεῖσα 
πλεῖστα βλάπτουσι).   
6) Melians and Athenians, Thuc. 5.102-3: for us, yielding without a fight is hopeless, but by 
acting, there might still be hope of standing upright (καὶ ἡμῖν τὸ μὲν εἶξαι εὐθὺς ἀνέλπιστον, 
μετὰ δὲ τοῦ δρωμένου ἔτι καὶ στῆναι ἐλπὶς ὀρθῶς).  Hope is a solace in dangerous situations, 
and for those who have further wherewithal.  For if she harms, she still does not ruin.  But for 
those who put it all on one throw, since she is by nature prodigal, only when disaster occurs 
does she make her true nature known, and when she is known she leaves her victim no 
resources with which to guard against her in the future … [only fools] when the visible 
grounds of hope leave them in distress, take themselves to invisible ones – divination, 
oracles, and such things – which ruin men through hopes (Ἐλπὶς δὲ κινδύνῳ παραμύθιον 
οὖσα τοὺς μὲν ἀπὸ περιουσίας χρωμένους αὐτῇ, κἂν βλάψῃ, οὐ καθεῖλεν• τοῖς δὲ ἐς ἅπαν τὸ 
ὑπάρχον ἀναρριπτοῦσι δάπανος γὰρ φύσει ἅμα τε γιγνώσκεται σφαλέντων καὶ ἐν ὅτῳ ἔτι 
φυλάξεταί τις αὐτὴν γνωρισθεῖσαν οὐκ ἐλλείπει … ἐπειδὰν πιεζομένους αὐτοὺς ἐπιλίπωσιν 
αἱ φανεραὶ ἐλπίδες, ἐπὶ τὰς ἀφανεῖς καθίστανται, μαντικήν τε καὶ χρησμοὺς καὶ ὅσα τοιαῦτα 
μετ’ ἐλπίδων λυμαίνεται).   
7a) Embarkation of Sicilian Expedition, Thuc. 6.30: [the men left] with hope and 
lamentations, (μετ’ ἐλπίδος τε ἅμα ἰόντες καὶ ὀλοφυρμῶν); they hope to conquer but worry 
that they may never return.   
7b) Sicilian expedition was, Thuc. 6.31: the longest voyage from home to date and 
undertaken with the highest hopes for the future, as compared to their present resources 
(μέγιστος ἤδη διάπλους ἀπὸ τῆς οἰκείας καὶ ἐπὶ μεγίστῃ ἐλπίδι τῶν μελλόντων πρὸς τὰ 
ὑπάρχοντα ἐπεχειρήθη). 
8a) various Athenian hopes in Sicily, Thuc 6.68: great hope of victory (μεγάλην τὴν ἐλπίδα 
τῆς νίκης ἔχειν); allies have no hope of safety unless they conquer, 6.69 (περὶ τῆς αὐτίκα 
ἀνελπίστου σωτηρίας); victory makes them hope for other allies, 6.71.2 (ἃς ἤλπιζον μετὰ 
τὴν μάχην μᾶλλον σφῶν ὑπακούσεσθαι).   
8b) Hopes of the Spartan Gylippus, sent to help the Syracusans, Thuc. 6.104: at first arrival, 
gives up hope of Sicily, but perhaps Italy? (τῆς μὲν Σικελίας οὐκέτι ἐλπίδα οὐδεμίαν εἶχεν ὁ 
Γύλιππος, τὴν δὲ Ἰταλίαν βουλόμενος περιποιῆσαι).  
8c) Nicias loses hope, Thuc. 7.4: Gylippus arrives in Sicily, which Nicias interprets as 
making his chances on land hopeless (ὁρῶν τὰ ἐκ τῆς γῆς σφίσιν ἤδη, ἐπειδὴ Γύλιππος ἧκεν, 
ἀνελπιστότερα ὄντα); 7.8 Nicias sends messages home about being in a critical situation, ἐν 
δεινοῖς. 
8d) Gylippus decides to engage in a sea battle, Thuc. 7.21.2: hoping to accomplish 
something worthwhile by the risk (ἐλπίζειν γὰρ ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ τι ἔργον ἄξιον τοῦ κινδύνου ἐς 
τὸν πόλεμον κατεργάσεσθαι). Syracusans full of hope, 7.25 (ἐν ἐλπίσιν) and encourage the 
hopes of their Sicilian compatriots (ἐν ἐλπίσιν εἰσὶ).  Syracusan naval victory gives them the 
confident hope that are now much superior to the Athenians on the sea, 7.41 (καὶ τὴν ἐλπίδα 
ἤδη ἐχυρὰν εἶχον ταῖς μὲν ναυσὶ καὶ πολὺ κρείσσους εἶναι).  Gylippus hopes even to storm 
the Athenian walls, 7.46 (ὡς ἐν ἐλπίδι ὢν καὶ τὰ τείχη τῶν Ἀθηναίων αἱρήσειν βίᾳ). 
8e) Athenians find situation hopeless, 7.47, (τά τε ἄλλα ὅτι ἀνέλπιστα αὐτοῖς ἐφαίνετο); 
Nicias thinks there is still hope, 7.48, (ἐλπίδος τι ἔτι παρεῖχε πονηρότερα τῶν σφετέρων 
ἔσεσθαι, ἢν καρτερῶσι προσκαθήμενοι).   
8f) Nicias, Thuc. 7.61: encourages troops not to feel an expectation of fear that is like their 
sufferings (τὴν ἐλπίδα τοῦ φόβου ὁμοίαν ταῖς ξυμφοραῖς.  Rather, they should hope for 
fortune to take their side (τὸ τῆς τύχης κἂν μεθ’ ἡμῶν ἐλπίσαντες στῆναι). Gylippus notes 
that those been deceived in their estimation of their abilities, against all expectation, 
therefore give way entirely, 7.66 (παρ’ἐλπίδα τοῦ αὐχήματος σφαλλόμενοι καὶ παρὰ ἰσχὺν 
τῆς δυνάμεως ἐνδιδόασιν).  Syracusans have had their hopes doubled, by defeating the 
strongest, and, for the most part, the greatest hope inspires in men the greatest zeal for their 
endeavors, 7.67 τὸ κρατίστους εἶναι εἰ τοὺς κρατίστους ἐνικήσαμεν, διπλασία ἑκάστου ἡ 
ἐλπίς• τὰ δὲ πολλὰ πρὸς τὰς ἐπιχειρήσεις ἡ μεγίστη ἐλπὶς μεγίστην καὶ τὴν προθυμίαν 
παρέχεται).   
8g) Athenians realize that they have little hope of escape by land, 7.71 (καὶ τότε τοῖς 
Ἀθηναίοις ἀνέλπιστον ἦν τὸ κατὰ γῆν σωθήσεσθαι).   They march out, having lost all their 
ships, and instead of their high hopes, endangering themselves and Athens, 7.75 (τάς τε ναῦς 
ἀπολωλεκότες πάσας ἀπεχώρουν καὶ ἀντὶ μεγάλης ἐλπίδος καὶ αὐτοὶ καὶ ἡ πόλις 
κινδυνεύοντες).  Nicias encourages hope, since men have been redeemed from even worse 
evils, 7.77 (ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι καὶ ξύμμαχοι, ἐλπίδα χρὴ ἔχειν (ἤδη τινὲς καὶ ἐκ δεινοτέρων ἢ 
τοιῶνδε ἐσώθησαν)).  He himself is still boldly hopeful about the future, 7.77 (ἡ μὲν ἐλπὶς 
ὅμως θρασεῖα τοῦ μέλλοντος).  It is, in fact, reasonable to hope for kinder things from the 
gods, 7.77 (καὶ ἡμᾶς εἰκὸς νῦν τά τε ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐλπίζειν ἠπιώτερα ἕξειν (οἴκτου γὰρ ἀπ’ 
αὐτῶν ἀξιώτεροι ἤδη ἐσμὲν ἢ φθόνου).  


The Dangerous Qualities of Hope in Thucydides

New York University Faculty Digital Archive

The Dangerous Qualities of Hope in Thucydides - Handout Laurel Fulkerson, The Florida State University: lfulkerson@fsu.edu  1) First sentence of Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War 1.1.1: [Thucydides the Athenian wrote the history of the war fought by the Peloponnesians and the Athenians against one another,] beginning at the start of the war and expecting it to be great and more worthy of treatment than all that had preceded (ἀρξάμενος εὐθὺς καθισταμένου καὶ ἐλπίσας μέγαν τε ἔσεσθαι καὶ ἀξιολογώτατον τῶν προγεγενημένων).   2) Hesiod Works and Days 96-7: [Pandora opens the jar, and many evils fly out,] but Hope alone remained there, in its unbreakable home within the mouth of the jar (μούνη δ’ αὐτόθι Ἐλπὶς ἐν ἀρρήκτοισι δόμοισιν/ ἔνδον ἔμεινε πίθου ὑπὸ χείλεσιν). 3) Generalising statement about hope, Thuc. 4.108.4: Men are wont to entrust what they desire to unreflecting hope, and to push aside with sovereign reason what they do not want (εἰωθότες οἱ ἄνθρωποι οὗ μὲν ἐπιθυμοῦσιν ἐλπίδι ἀπερισκέπτῳ διδόναι, ὃ δὲ μὴ προσίενται λογισμῷ αὐτοκράτορι διωθεῖσθαι).   4) Corinthians on Athenians, Thuc. 1.70.3 and 7: daring beyond their resources, running dangers beyond their judgment, and of good hopes, even in dreadful circumstances (αὖθις δὲ οἱ μὲν καὶ παρὰ δύναμιν τολμηταὶ καὶ παρὰ γνώμην κινδυνευταὶ καὶ ἐν τοῖς δεινοῖς εὐέλπιδες•)  But if it happens that they miss out on something they have tried, they hope again and fill out the loss.  For with them alone are hoping and having the same thing when they have put their minds to it, on account of the swiftness with which they take in hand what they have decided (ἢν δ’ ἄρα του καὶ πείρᾳ σφαλῶσιν, ἀντελπίσαντες ἄλλα ἐπλήρωσαν τὴν χρείαν• μόνοι γὰρ ἔχουσί τε ὁμοίως καὶ ἐλπίζουσιν ἃ ἂν ἐπινοήσωσι διὰ τὸ ταχεῖαν τὴν ἐπιχείρησιν ποιεῖσθαι ὧν ἂν γνῶσιν). 5a: Cleon’s speech, Thuc. 3.39.3: The Mytileneans became bold about the future and conceived hopes greater than their resources but less than their desires (γενόμενοι δὲ πρὸς τὸ μέλλον θρασεῖς καὶ ἐλπίσαντες μακρότερα μὲν τῆς  δυνάμεως, ἐλάσσω δὲ τῆς βουλήσεως). 5b) Diodotus’ speech, Thuc. 3.45.1 and 5: But men are inspired by hope to run risks, and nobody has ever yet entered into a dreadful situation while convinced that he would not succeed (ὅμως δὲ τῇ ἐλπίδι ἐπαιρόμενοι κινδυνεύουσι, καὶ οὐδείς πω καταγνοὺς ἑαυτοῦ μὴ περιέσεσθαι τῷ ἐπιβουλεύματι ἦλθεν ἐς τὸ δεινόν).  Hope and desire are everywhere: desire leads, hope follows; desire makes a plan and hope makes the path of luck seem easy; these two emotions are extremely harmful (ἥ τε ἐλπὶς καὶ ὁ ἔρως ἐπὶ παντί, ὁ μὲν ἡγούμενος, ἡ δ’ ἐφεπομένη, καὶ ὁ μὲν τὴν ἐπιβουλὴν ἐκφροντίζων ἡ δὲ τὴν εὐπορίαν τῆς τύχης ὑποτιθεῖσα πλεῖστα βλάπτουσι).   6) Melians and Athenians, Thuc. 5.102-3: for us, yielding without a fight is hopeless, but by acting, there might still be hope of standing upright (καὶ ἡμῖν τὸ μὲν εἶξαι εὐθὺς ἀνέλπιστον, μετὰ δὲ τοῦ δρωμένου ἔτι καὶ στῆναι ἐλπὶς ὀρθῶς).  Hope is a solace in dangerous situations, and for those who have further wherewithal.  For if she harms, she still does not ruin.  But for those who put it all on one throw, since she is by nature prodigal, only when disaster occurs does she make her true nature known, and when she is known she leaves her victim no resources with which to guard against her in the future … [only fools] when the visible grounds of hope leave them in distress, take themselves to invisible ones – divination, oracles, and such things – which ruin men through hopes (Ἐλπὶς δὲ κινδύνῳ παραμύθιον οὖσα τοὺς μὲν ἀπὸ περιουσίας χρωμένους αὐτῇ, κἂν βλάψῃ, οὐ καθεῖλεν• τοῖς δὲ ἐς ἅπαν τὸ ὑπάρχον ἀναρριπτοῦσι δάπανος γὰρ φύσει ἅμα τε γιγνώσκεται σφαλέντων καὶ ἐν ὅτῳ ἔτι φυλάξεταί τις αὐτὴν γνωρισθεῖσαν οὐκ ἐλλείπει … ἐπειδὰν πιεζομένους αὐτοὺς ἐπιλίπωσιν αἱ φανεραὶ ἐλπίδες, ἐπὶ τὰς ἀφανεῖς καθίστανται, μαντικήν τε καὶ χρησμοὺς καὶ ὅσα τοιαῦτα μετ’ ἐλπίδων λυμαίνεται).   7a) Embarkation of Sicilian Expedition, Thuc. 6.30: [the men left] with hope and lamentations, (μετ’ ἐλπίδος τε ἅμα ἰόντες καὶ ὀλοφυρμῶν); they hope to conquer but worry that they may never return.   7b) Sicilian expedition was, Thuc. 6.31: the longest voyage from home to date and undertaken with the highest hopes for the future, as compared to their present resources (μέγιστος ἤδη διάπλους ἀπὸ τῆς οἰκείας καὶ ἐπὶ μεγίστῃ ἐλπίδι τῶν μελλόντων πρὸς τὰ ὑπάρχοντα ἐπεχειρήθη). 8a) various Athenian hopes in Sicily, Thuc 6.68: great hope of victory (μεγάλην τὴν ἐλπίδα τῆς νίκης ἔχειν); allies have no hope of safety unless they conquer, 6.69 (περὶ τῆς αὐτίκα ἀνελπίστου σωτηρίας); victory makes them hope for other allies, 6.71.2 (ἃς ἤλπιζον μετὰ τὴν μάχην μᾶλλον σφῶν ὑπακούσεσθαι).   8b) Hopes of the Spartan Gylippus, sent to help the Syracusans, Thuc. 6.104: at first arrival, gives up hope of Sicily, but perhaps Italy? (τῆς μὲν Σικελίας οὐκέτι ἐλπίδα οὐδεμίαν εἶχεν ὁ Γύλιππος, τὴν δὲ Ἰταλίαν βουλόμενος περιποιῆσαι).  8c) Nicias loses hope, Thuc. 7.4: Gylippus arrives in Sicily, which Nicias interprets as making his chances on land hopeless (ὁρῶν τὰ ἐκ τῆς γῆς σφίσιν ἤδη, ἐπειδὴ Γύλιππος ἧκεν, ἀνελπιστότερα ὄντα); 7.8 Nicias sends messages home about being in a critical situation, ἐν δεινοῖς. 8d) Gylippus decides to engage in a sea battle, Thuc. 7.21.2: hoping to accomplish something worthwhile by the risk (ἐλπίζειν γὰρ ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ τι ἔργον ἄξιον τοῦ κινδύνου ἐς τὸν πόλεμον κατεργάσεσθαι). Syracusans full of hope, 7.25 (ἐν ἐλπίσιν) and encourage the hopes of their Sicilian compatriots (ἐν ἐλπίσιν εἰσὶ).  Syracusan naval victory gives them the confident hope that are now much superior to the Athenians on the sea, 7.41 (καὶ τὴν ἐλπίδα ἤδη ἐχυρὰν εἶχον ταῖς μὲν ναυσὶ καὶ πολὺ κρείσσους εἶναι).  Gylippus hopes even to storm the Athenian walls, 7.46 (ὡς ἐν ἐλπίδι ὢν καὶ τὰ τείχη τῶν Ἀθηναίων αἱρήσειν βίᾳ). 8e) Athenians find situation hopeless, 7.47, (τά τε ἄλλα ὅτι ἀνέλπιστα αὐτοῖς ἐφαίνετο); Nicias thinks there is still hope, 7.48, (ἐλπίδος τι ἔτι παρεῖχε πονηρότερα τῶν σφετέρων ἔσεσθαι, ἢν καρτερῶσι προσκαθήμενοι).   8f) Nicias, Thuc. 7.61: encourages troops not to feel an expectation of fear that is like their sufferings (τὴν ἐλπίδα τοῦ φόβου ὁμοίαν ταῖς ξυμφοραῖς.  Rather, they should hope for fortune to take their side (τὸ τῆς τύχης κἂν μεθ’ ἡμῶν ἐλπίσαντες στῆναι). Gylippus notes that those been deceived in their estimation of their abilities, against all expectation, therefore give way entirely, 7.66 (παρ’ἐλπίδα τοῦ αὐχήματος σφαλλόμενοι καὶ παρὰ ἰσχὺν τῆς δυνάμεως ἐνδιδόασιν).  Syracusans have had their hopes doubled, by defeating the strongest, and, for the most part, the greatest hope inspires in men the greatest zeal for their endeavors, 7.67 τὸ κρατίστους εἶναι εἰ τοὺς κρατίστους ἐνικήσαμεν, διπλασία ἑκάστου ἡ ἐλπίς• τὰ δὲ πολλὰ πρὸς τὰς ἐπιχειρήσεις ἡ μεγίστη ἐλπὶς μεγίστην καὶ τὴν προθυμίαν παρέχεται).   8g) Athenians realize that they have little hope of escape by land, 7.71 (καὶ τότε τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις ἀνέλπιστον ἦν τὸ κατὰ γῆν σωθήσεσθαι).   They march out, having lost all their ships, and instead of their high hopes, endangering themselves and Athens, 7.75 (τάς τε ναῦς ἀπολωλεκότες πάσας ἀπεχώρουν καὶ ἀντὶ μεγάλης ἐλπίδος καὶ αὐτοὶ καὶ ἡ πόλις κινδυνεύοντες).  Nicias encourages hope, since men have been redeemed from even worse evils, 7.77 (ὦ Ἀθηναῖοι καὶ ξύμμαχοι, ἐλπίδα χρὴ ἔχειν (ἤδη τινὲς καὶ ἐκ δεινοτέρων ἢ τοιῶνδε ἐσώθησαν)).  He himself is still boldly hopeful about the future, 7.77 (ἡ μὲν ἐλπὶς ὅμως θρασεῖα τοῦ μέλλοντος).  It is, in fact, reasonable to hope for kinder things from the gods, 7.77 (καὶ ἡμᾶς εἰκὸς νῦν τά τε ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐλπίζειν ἠπιώτερα ἕξειν (οἴκτου γὰρ ἀπ’ αὐτῶν ἀξιώτεροι ἤδη ἐσμὲν ἢ φθόνου).  

https://archive.nyu.edu/bitstream/2451/34038/3/Hope%20in%20Thucydides%20handout%281%29.pdf

The Dangerous Qualities of Hope in Thucydides

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

DSpace at New York University

New York University Faculty Digital Archive