Political Quotes

Demosthenes: “But that you will not say: for whoever contrives and prepares the means for my conquest, is at war with me, before he…”

On the recordc. 349 BC
But that you will not say: for whoever contrives and prepares the means for my conquest, is at war with me, before he darts or draws the bow.
Said by
Demosthenes

Editor's note · Context

Arguing that hostile intent and preparation constitute an act of war, even before open hostilities begin.

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If we admitted the truth of what would be your best possible answer, namely, that all you do is for honor and renown, I wonder what puts it into your head, that you ought from such motives to exert yourself and undergo toil and danger…

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Such is the truth, spoken with perfect freedom, purely from good-will and for the best: not a speech fraught with flattery and mischief and deceit, to earn money for the speaker, and to put the commonwealth into the hands of our enemies.

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