Thucydides is criticising the tendency to accept familiar or convenient accounts without examining whether they are true. His point is that people often repeat the first explanation they encounter rather than testing it against evidence or comparing it with other accounts.

The passage appears in the context of Thucydides’ discussion of historical inquiry. He contrasts careless acceptance of tradition with a more deliberate effort to establish what happened. This reflects a broader concern throughout his work with testimony, evidence and the difficulty of reconstructing events accurately.

The quotation can therefore be read as an early statement about critical inquiry as well as a criticism of credulity. Its relevance extends beyond history: it applies whenever claims are accepted because they are familiar, widely repeated or immediately available rather than because they have been carefully examined.