But what may be called the necessity of freemen is not only come, but past long ago; and that of slaves you must surely deprecate.
Demosthenes: “But what may be called the necessity of freemen is not only come, but past long ago; and that of slaves you must surely…”
Editor's note · Context
Demosthenes warns that the time for honorable action by freemen has passed, and the Athenians must now avoid the dire necessity faced by slaves.
Share
More from Demosthenes
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.
He is convinced, you will not submit to be slaves; if you were inclined, you would not know how, having been accustomed to command: you will be able, should occasion offer, to give him more trouble than any people in the world.
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…
You can not surely allege, that Aristodemus ought to be of importance at Athens, and Athens to be of no account among the Greeks.





