§12.25b.1ὅτι τῆς ἱστορίας ἰδίωμα τοῦτʼ ἐστὶ τὸ πρῶτον μὲν αὐτοὺς τοὺς κατʼ ἀλήθειαν εἰρημένους, οἷοί ποτʼ ἂν ὦσι, γνῶναι λόγους, δεύτερον τὴν αἰτίαν πυνθάνεσθαι, παρʼ ἣν ἢ διέπεσεν ἢ κατωρθώθη τὸ πραχθὲν ἢ ῥηθέν·
That the peculiar character of history is, first, to know the words actually spoken, of whatever kind they may be, and second, to inquire into the cause by reason of which what was done or spoken either failed or succeeded.
§12.25b.2ἐπεὶ ψιλῶς λεγόμενον αὐτὸ τὸ γεγονὸς ψυχαγωγεῖ μέν, ὠφελεῖ δʼ οὐδέν· προστεθείσης δὲ τῆς αἰτίας ἔγκαρπος ἡ τῆς ἱστορίας γίνεται χρῆσις.
For the event itself, when told bare, may entertain, but is of no benefit; but when the cause is added, the utility of history becomes fruitful.
§12.25b.3ἐκ γὰρ τῶν ὁμοίων ἐπὶ τοὺς οἰκείους μεταφερομένων καιροὺς ἀφορμαὶ γίνονται καὶ προλήψεις εἰς τὸ προϊδέσθαι τὸ μέλλον, καὶ ποτὲ μὲν εὐλαβηθῆναι, ποτὲ δὲ μιμούμενον τὰ προγεγονότα θαρραλεώτερον ἐγχειρεῖν τοῖς ἐπιφερομένοις·
For from similar cases applied to appropriate occasions, there arise means and anticipations for foreseeing the future, and at one time for taking precautions, and at another, by imitating past events, for embarking more courageously upon what is coming.
§12.25b.4ὁ δὲ καὶ τοὺς ῥηθέντας λόγους καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν παρασιωπῶν, ψευδῆ δʼ ἀντὶ τούτων ἐπιχειρήματα καὶ διεξοδικοὺς λέγων λόγους, ἀναιρεῖ τὸ τῆς ἱστορίας ἴδιον· ὃ μάλιστα ποιεῖ Τίμαιος· καὶ διότι τούτου τοῦ γένους ἐστὶ πλήρη τὰ βυβλία παρʼ αὐτῷ, πάντες γινώσκομεν.
But he who suppresses both the speeches actually delivered and the cause, and instead of these speaks of false arguments and verbose discourses, destroys the peculiar character of history; which is precisely what Timaeus does, and we all know that his books are full of this kind of thing.