Not that I blame any one who does you a service: I only call upon you, Athenians, to perform on your own account those duties for which you honor strangers, and not to surrender that post of dignity which, won through many glorious dangers, your ancestors have bequeathed.
Demosthenes urges Athenians to take personal responsibility for their state's defense and honor, rather than relying on foreign mercenaries.
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I am not ignorant, Athenians, that frequently, when any disappointment happens, you are angry, not with the parties in fault, but with the last speakers on the subject; yet never, with a view to self-protection, would I suppress what I…
Then are you not ashamed, that the very damage which you would suffer, if he had the power, you dare not seize the moment to inflict on him?
Could decrees of themselves compel you to perform your duty, or execute what they prescribe, neither would you with many decrees have accomplished little or nothing, nor would Philip have insulted you so long.
On many occasions, men of Athens, one may see the kindness of the gods to this country manifested, but most signally, I think, on the present.
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