We Should Realize That A City Is Better Off With Bad Laws - So Long As They Remain Fixed - Than With Good Laws That Are Constantly Being Altered - That Lack Of Learning Combined With Sound Common Sense Is More Helpful Than The Kind Of Cleverness That Gets Out Of Hand - And That As A General Rule States Are Better Governed By The Man In The Street Than By Intellectuals. P.213 Book 3 Chapter 37

One of the ealiest works of recorded history, this is a historical account of the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC), which was fought between the Peloponnesian League (led by Sparta) and the Delian League (led by Athens). It was written by Thucydides, an Athenian historian who also happened to serve as an Athenian general during the war.  The History is divided into eight books.