Demosthenes: “For though our affairs are in a deplorable condition, though many sacrifices have been made, still, if you will choose…”

I could have wished, knowing the advantage of good counsel to you, I were equally certain of its advantage to the counselor: so should I have spoken with more satisfaction.

As a house, a ship, or the like, ought to have the lower parts firmest, so in human conduct, I ween, the principle and foundation should be just and true.

Impossible is it,--impossible, Athenians,--to acquire a solid power by injustice and perjury and falsehood.

To this point are the affairs of Athens brought, that the more fully and clearly one convicts Philip of violating the peace with you, and plotting against the whole of Greece, the more difficult it becomes to advise you how to act.