Greek Texts & Translations

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.

1.57My diplomacy and the clamor that greeted it combined to set the city on the watch, saved Attica from being swamped from every side as by a wave and turned the army in Boeotia against the Persians. ^note

1.58Fear of war, like darkness, does not present the same aspect when it confronts us as when it has been averted.

1.59It seems, therefore, the harshest imaginable rule that a man should be held accountable in time of peace for his administration during war. For every critic judges it with reference to the present calm, not to the danger that is over. And yet, if we make no allowance for the crisis, we are removing too the justification for the action.

1.60Each offence is dealt with in its own particular way some call for the council of the Areopagus, some for lesser courts, others for the Heliaea. All these are distinguished in name, circumstance, time, penalty, procedure, and in the number of the jury.

1.61Those who malign me are making unwarranted accusations. They do not charge me with plotting, for their villainy is bound by no oath. But the jury's judgement is governed by an oath.

1.62An unjust trial differs from an unjust punishment only in name.