Greek Texts & Translations

1.32Sparta was worn out with difficulties.

1.33Demosthenes, bitter sycophant that he is, by the cleverness of his words distorted the fact and showed it in a bad light.

1.34They came to realize clearly the changeability of the politician's life, the uncertainty of the future, the variety of fortune's changes, and the difficulty of gauging the crises that hold Greece in their grip. Therefore the law which they intended to direct against others . . .

1.35It was not I that advised this course: my country, the occasion, the circumstances themselves, thought fit to use my voice to put the measures into effect. It Is unjust therefore that an adviser should be held accountable for circumstances and for events whose outcome rested with fortune.

1.36Killed by his own hand he departed this life.

1.37The daughters of Erechtheus, ^note by nobility of virtue, triumphed over the woman's weakness in their hearts the frailty of their nature was made virile by devotion to the soil that reared them.

1.38Old men shrink from death in the sunset of life.

1.39. . . lit up Greece with the fire of war.

1.40A word, if rashly uttered, will sharpen the sword of war, and yet, if skilfully chosen, it will blunt the spear even though it is already whetted. There is more speed in management than in force.

1.41The barbarian accepted the statement but did not probe its meaning. For his ears interpreted the message to conform with his own pleasure rather than with the truth. But this was no idle speech, for deeds followed hard upon it.

1.42Force does not enable a man to master even the smallest things. It was inventiveness and system that made him yoke the ox to the plough for the tilling of the land, bridle the horse, set a rider on the elephant, and cross the boundless sea in boats of wood. The engineer and craftsman of all these things is mind, and we must use it as our guide, not always seeking to follow the subtleties of our own plans but rather the natural changes of events. This was the method by which I tamed Alexander, like some fearful beast, with flattering words and made him tractable for the future.

1.43A manly utterance and a frankness worthy of the name Athenian.

1.44I hate the popular leaders because they disturb the people and shatter the peace, the fruit of my administration, with a decree in favour of war.

1.45Our ancestors left Athens and held the sea as a city, and the naval disaster shattered the land army also.

1.46Freedom is not on guard against a spy.

1.47The changes to which events are subject are treacherous and unceasing.

1.48For it is by a resolution of goodwill that the altar of immortality has been erected. ^note

1.49You will set over them time speaking as a herald.

1.50Alexander who framed his hopes to gain world dominion.

1.51Demosthenes, a little man made up of syllables and a tongue.

1.52For those words as it were lulled to sleep the king's anger.

1.53For the powers of the city and the pride of Greece were still at their height, and fortune favoured the people. But now every element of value in the political world has been ostracized and the cities' hamstrings removed men's lives have inclined to relaxation and luxury, the means of concord are no longer there, and the hopes of our friends have proved vain.

1.54War, like a cloud, was threatening Europe from every quarter, suppressing my right to speak my mind in the assembly and taking away all power of free and noble utterance.

1.55Examine the truth in the light of events and do not give more weight to false charges than to accepted facts.

1.56. . . by the course of events proclaims the fire of war. This letter of Alexander's broke my purpose. ^note This letter, embracing war in characters of ink, almost seized me by the hand and roused me. It travelled through my thoughts and did not let me rest in peace; for the danger was at our gates.