This you must leave off; be yourselves again; establish a general liberty of speech, deliberation, and action.
Demosthenes: “This you must leave off; be yourselves again; establish a general liberty of speech, deliberation, and action.”
Editor's note · Context
In a speech addressing the Athenian assembly, he advocates for restoring fundamental civic freedoms.
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To call him perjured and treacherous, without showing what he has done, might justly be termed idle abuse.
As, therefore, by such means he rose, when every people imagined he would advance their interest, so ought he by the same means to be pulled down again, when the selfish aim of his whole policy is exposed.
But look to this, Athenians, that our envoys shall not only make speeches, but have some real proof that we have gone forth as becomes our country, and are engaged in action.
Because, I conceive, measuring his calculations by ambition, by his desire of universal empire, without regard to peace, quiet, or justice, he saw plainly, that to a people of our character and principles nothing could he offer or give…





