There is another thing too, the attacking of which by unjust reproach and improper language hurts the state, and affords an excuse to men who are unwilling to perform any public duty: indeed you will find that every failure to discharge the obligation of a citizen is attributable to this.
Demosthenes warns against the detrimental impact of unfair criticism on public service and citizen responsibility.
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You can not surely allege, that Aristodemus ought to be of importance at Athens, and Athens to be of no account among the Greeks.
Because our city is the only one where liberty is allowed to speak for the enemy, where a man taking a bribe may safely address the people, though they have been deprived of their possessions.
They say that you should keep quiet, though you are injured; but they can not themselves keep quiet among you, though no one injures them.
For this reason he will show us no mercy, if he get us into his power: and therefore you must make up your minds, that the struggle will be one for life and death.
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