Pittacus of Mytilene Quotes
Do not say beforehand what you are going to do; for if you fail, you will be laughed at.
Mytilene was at war with Athens. Pittacus suggested that instead of the armies fighting, the war should be decided by a battle between him and the Athenian General who accepted. Pittacus won and was the Ruler of Athens, where he became quite popular. He wrote all his laws and decrees in poetry. He resigned after 10 years. He was considered one of the 7 great Greek Sages.
Pittacus of Mytilene, 640 BC-568 BC, Greek General & Sage, Ruler of Athens, Advice to leaders
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She was referring to the Administration of George W. Bush who had justified his Iraq War policies on intelligence claims that were false. The initial war effort was very successful, but the occupation was very poorly managed and there were many American and allied casualties—the stream on fire. Bush apologists claim that the President had been given faulty information by the CIA and he had no intention of misleading the American people.
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Pittacus (/ˈpɪtəkəs/; Greek: Πιττακός; c. 640 – 568 BC) was an ancient Mytilenean military general and one of the Seven Sages of Greece.
