People who would never have harmed him, though they might have adopted measures of defense, he chose to deceive rather than warn them of his attack; and think ye he would declare war against you before he began it, and that while you are willing to be deceived?
Arguing against Athenian inaction towards Philip, on the aggressor's preference for deception over open declaration of war.
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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?
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…
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.
To censure, I may be told, is easy for any man; to show what measures the case requires, is the part of a counselor.
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