The natural result was, that Greece, was formidable to the Barbarian, not the Barbarian to Greece. 'Tis not so now: since neither in this nor in other respects are your sentiments the same.
From a speech lamenting the decline of Greek power and spirit, on the reversal of roles between Greece and its foreign adversaries.
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So in political affairs, they who misuse their opportunities forget even the good which the gods send them; for every prior event is judged commonly by the last result.
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.
So report says, and I can well believe it; for undeserved success leads weak-minded men into folly; and thus it appears often, that to maintain prosperity is harder than to acquire it.
If a man keep what he gets, he is thankful to fortune; if he lose it by imprudence, he loses withal his memory of the obligation.
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