---
title: "But Greece and her foundations are Built below the tide of war, Based… — Percy Bysshe Shelley Quote #125 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "But Greece and her foundations are Built below the tide of war, Based on the crystalline sea Of thought and its eternity; Her citizens, imperial spir… — a quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

> # But Greece and her foundations are Built below the tide of war, Based on the crystalline sea Of thought and its eternity; Her citizens, imperial spirits, Rule the present from the past, On all this world of men inherits Their seal is set.

[Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://quotesby.net/Percy-Bysshe-Shelley)\#125

[History](https://quotesby.net/Percy-Bysshe-Shelley/history/)[Legacy](https://quotesby.net/Percy-Bysshe-Shelley/legacy/)[Civilization](https://quotesby.net/topics/civilization/)[Culture](https://quotesby.net/topics/culture/)[Thinking](https://quotesby.net/topics/thinking/)

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## About this quote

What does it mean?Greece is founded on eternal thought rather than war, with its citizens ruling through enduring wisdom.In plain termsGreece is built on ideas that last forever, not on fighting.What can you take from it?Enduring civilizations are built on thought not war.

### Where it applies

- classical studies
- national identity debates
- cultural preservation

### Putting it to work

- promote intellectual heritage
- value cultural memory
- study classical history

### Questions to consider

- What foundations truly sustain a nation?
- How does thought shape cultural identity?

### Another view

The quote idealizes Greece as purely intellectual ignoring its historical military conflicts.

## More from Percy Bysshe Shelley

1. > Kings are like stars - they rise and set, they have The worship of the world, but no repose.

[Permalink to quote \#124](https://quotesby.net/Percy-Bysshe-Shelley/124/ "Permalink to quote 124")
2. > The world's great age begins anew, The golden years return, The earth doth like a snake renew Her winter weeds outworn; Heaven smiles, and faiths and empires g…

[Permalink to quote \#126](https://quotesby.net/Percy-Bysshe-Shelley/126/ "Permalink to quote 126")
3. > Life may change, but it may fly not; Hope may vanish, but can die not; Truth be veiled, but still it burneth; Love repulsed, - but it returneth!

[Permalink to quote \#123](https://quotesby.net/Percy-Bysshe-Shelley/123/ "Permalink to quote 123")

## Related quotes

1. > They \[the Greeks\] were the first Westerners; the spirit of the West, the modern spirit, is a Greek discovery and the place of the Greeks is in the modern world.

[Edith Hamilton](https://quotesby.net/Edith-Hamilton)[Edith Hamilton quote \#7](https://quotesby.net/Edith-Hamilton/7/ "Permalink to quote 7")
2. > Many clever Babylonians, many clever Egyptians, many clever men at the end of Rome. Can you tell me, in a world that is flagrant with the failures of civilisat…

[Gilbert Keith Chesterton](https://quotesby.net/Gilbert-Keith-Chesterton)[Gilbert Keith Chesterton quote \#8](https://quotesby.net/Gilbert-Keith-Chesterton/8/ "Permalink to quote 8")
3. > We are all Greeks. Our laws, our literature, our religion, our arts have their root in Greece.

[Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://quotesby.net/Percy-Bysshe-Shelley)[Percy Bysshe Shelley quote \#122](https://quotesby.net/Percy-Bysshe-Shelley/122/ "Permalink to quote 122")

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