§3.31.1ἔνιοι δὲ τῶν ἀκρίτως τὰ τοιαῦτα θεωμένων τάχʼ ἂν φήσαιεν ἡμᾶς οὐκ ἀναγκαίως ἐπὶ πλεῖον ἐξακριβοῦν τοὺς ὑπὲρ τῶν τοιούτων λόγους.
Some of those who view such matters without discernment might perhaps say that we are inquiring too minutely beyond what is necessary into the discussions of such matters.
§3.31.2ἐγὼ δʼ, εἰ μέν τις ὑπείληφεν πρὸς πᾶσαν περίστασιν αὐτάρκης ὑπάρχειν, καλὴν μέν, οὐκ ἀναγκαίαν δʼ ἴσως φήσαιμʼ ἂν εἶναι τὴν τῶν προγεγονότων ἐπιστήμην·
But I, if anyone has assumed that he is self-sufficient for every circumstance, might perhaps say that the knowledge of the past is indeed fine, but not necessary.
§3.31.3εἰ δὲ μηδεὶς ἂν μήτε περὶ τῶν κατʼ ἰδίαν μήτε περὶ τῶν κοινῶν τολμήσαι τοῦτʼ εἰπεῖν ἄνθρωπος ὢν διὰ τό, κἂν κατὰ τὸ παρὸν εὐτυχῇ, τήν γε περὶ τοῦ μέλλοντος ἐλπίδα μηδὲν ἂν ἐκ τῶν νῦν παρόντων εὐλόγως βεβαιώσασθαι μηδένα τῶν νοῦν ἐχόντων, οὐ μόνον καλήν, §3.31.4ἔτι δὲ μᾶλλον ἀναγκαίαν εἶναί φημι διὰ ταῦτα τὴν τῶν παρεληλυθότων ἐπίγνωσιν.
But if no one, being human, would dare to say this either concerning private affairs or public ones—because, even if he is successful at present, no one of sound mind could reasonably assure his hope for the future based on his present circumstances—I say that it is not only fine, but for these reasons the knowledge of the past is even more necessary.
§3.31.5πῶς γὰρ ἂν εἴτʼ αὐτὸς ἀδικούμενός τις ἢ τῆς πατρίδος ἀδικουμένης βοηθοὺς εὕροι καὶ συμμάχους, εἴτε κτήσασθαί τι καὶ προκατάρξασθαι σπουδάζων τοὺς συνεργήσοντας αὐτῷ παρορμήσαι πρὸς τὰς ἐπιβολάς;
For how could anyone, whether he himself is wronged or his country is wronged, find helpers and allies, or, if he is eager to acquire something and take the initiative, how could he incite those who will cooperate with him in his undertakings?
§3.31.6πῶς δʼ ἂν εὐδοκούμενος τοῖς ὑποκειμένοις τοὺς βεβαιώσοντας τὴν αὐτοῦ προαίρεσιν καὶ διαφυλάξοντας τὴν κατάστασιν παροξύναι δικαίως, εἰ μηδὲν εἰδείη τῆς τῶν προγεγονότων περὶ ἑκάστους ὑπομνήσεως;
And how could he justly urge those who are to confirm his purpose and preserve the established order, if he is satisfied with present conditions, if he knew nothing of the past history of each party?
§3.31.7πρὸς μὲν γὰρ τὸ παρὸν ἀεί πως ἁρμοζόμενοι καὶ συνυποκρινόμενοι τοιαῦτα καὶ λέγουσι καὶ πράττουσι πάντες ὥστε δυσθεώρητον εἶναι τὴν ἑκάστου προαίρεσιν καὶ λίαν ἐν πολλοῖς ἐπισκοτεῖσθαι τὴν ἀλήθειαν.
For with a view to the present, adapting themselves and playing a part, as it were, all people both say and do such things that the purpose of each is difficult to discern, and in many cases the truth is deeply obscured.
§3.31.8τὰ δὲ παρεληλυθότα τῶν ἔργων, ἐξ αὐτῶν τῶν πραγμάτων λαμβάνοντα τὴν δοκιμασίαν, ἀληθινῶς ἐμφαίνει τὰς ἑκάστων αἱρέσεις καὶ διαλήψεις καὶ δηλοῖ παρʼ οἷς μὲν χάριν, εὐεργεσίαν, βοήθειαν ἡμῖν ὑπάρχουσαν, παρʼ οἷς δὲ τἀναντία τούτων.
But past deeds, receiving their test from the facts themselves, truly reveal the choices and dispositions of each, and make clear on whose part there is gratitude, beneficence, and assistance available to us, and on whose part the opposites of these.
§3.31.9ἐξ ὧν καὶ τὸν ἐλεήσοντα καὶ τὸν συνοργιούμενον, ἔτι δὲ τὸν δικαιώσοντα, πολλάκις καὶ ἐπὶ πολλῶν εὑρεῖν ἔστιν.
From which, one who will show pity, one who will share in our anger, and moreover one who will justify us, can often be found in many instances.
§3.31.10ἅπερ ἔχει μεγίστας ἐπικουρίας καὶ κοινῇ καὶ κατʼ ἰδίαν πρὸς τὸν ἀνθρώπινον βίον.
Which things possess the greatest assistance both publicly and privately for human life.
§3.31.11διόπερ οὐχ οὕτως ἐστὶ φροντιστέον τῆς αὐτῶν τῶν πράξεων ἐξηγήσεως οὔτε τοῖς γράφουσιν οὔτε τοῖς ἀναγινώσκουσιν τὰς ἱστορίας, ὡς τῶν πρότερον καὶ τῶν ἅμα καὶ τῶν ἐπιγινομένων τοῖς ἔργοις.
Therefore, one must not care so much for the exposition of the actions themselves, either for those who write or those who read history, as for what preceded, what accompanied, and what followed the deeds.
§3.31.12ἱστορίας γὰρ ἐὰν ἀφέλῃ τις τὸ διὰ τί καὶ πῶς καὶ τίνος χάριν ἐπράχθη τὸ πραχθὲν καὶ πότερον εὔλογον ἔσχε τὸ τέλος, τὸ καταλειπόμενον αὐτῆς ἀγώνισμα μὲν μάθημα δʼ οὐ γίνεται, §3.31.13καὶ παραυτίκα μὲν τέρπει, πρὸς δὲ τὸ μέλλον οὐδὲν ὠφελεῖ τὸ παράπαν.
For if one takes away from history the "why", the "how", and "for what purpose" the deed was done, and whether its end was reasonable, what is left of it becomes a mere showpiece, but not a lesson, and though it delights for the moment, it profits nothing at all for the future.