For had he been willing to remain quiet in possession of his conquests and prizes, and attempted nothing further, some of you, I think, would be satisfied with a state of things, which brands our nation with the shame of cowardice and the foulest disgrace.
Demosthenes: “For had he been willing to remain quiet in possession of his conquests and prizes, and attempted nothing further, some…”
Editor's note · Context
From a speech urging Athenians to resist Philip's expansion, on the dangers of national complacency and dishonor.
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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.
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.
For the riches of a state I consider to be allies, confidence, good-will; of all which you are destitute.
Yea, among these men, some have risen rapidly from poverty to wealth, from meanness and obscurity to repute and honor, while you, on the contrary, have fallen from honor to obscurity, from wealth to indigence.





