As for me, never before have I courted favor, by speaking what I am not convinced is for your good, and now I have spoken my whole mind frankly and unreservedly.
Demosthenes: “As for me, never before have I courted favor, by speaking what I am not convinced is for your good, and now I have…”
Editor's note · Context
From a speech concluding his argument, on the speaker's commitment to honesty and the public good.
Share
More from Demosthenes
It must then be our care, Athenians, that we are not more unkind to ourselves than circumstances have been; as it would be a foul, a most foul reproach, to have abandoned not only cities and places that once belonged to us, but also the…
If it be his principle, ever to do more than he has done, and yours, to apply yourselves vigorously to nothing, see what the end promises to be.
For I have been taught both by hearsay and experience, that most of your advantages have escaped you, from unwillingness to do your duty, not from ignorance.
When this has been secured, one may look out for revenge on Philip; but before we lay the foundation right, I deem it idle to talk about the end.





