Thucydides was an historian (the successor of Herodotus, the father of Western history) whom documented to the best of his abilities the events of the Peloponnesian War; a war that brought the downfall of Greek society. The following is an excerpt of his work which I thought especially relevant to the purpose of Thucydides' writings--the illustration of human nature.

In reference to a plague that accompanied the numerous other hardships brought upon the Athenians during the Peloponnesian war.....

"At such a terrible time it was natural for them (the Athenians) to recall this verse, which the older people said had been sung long ago:

'A Dorian war will come,
'and with it a plague.

"People had disagreed about the wording of the verse: some said it was not, 'plague' (loimos) but, 'famine' (limos) that was foretold by the ancients; but on this occasion, naturally, the victory went to those who said, 'plague,' for people made their memory suit the current experience. Surely I think if there is another Dorian war after this one, and if a famine comes with it, it will be natural for them to recite the verse in that version."