It becomes not a wise or magnanimous people, to neglect military operations for want of money, and bear disgraces like these; or, while you snatch up arms to march against Corinthians and Megarians, to let Philip enslave Greek cities for lack of provisions for your troops.
Demosthenes criticizes Athens for its misplaced priorities, urging them to fund their military properly to resist Philip's expansion rather than focusing on minor disputes.
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I request you, if I speak my mind, to be patient, and consider only, whether I speak the truth, and with a view to future amendment.
I could have wished, knowing the advantage of good counsel to you, I were equally certain of its advantage to the counselor: so should I have spoken with more satisfaction.
There is the insult too, and the disgrace of the thing, worse than any damage to right-thinking men.
As for me, never before have I courted favor, by speaking what I am not convinced is for your good, and now I have spoken my whole mind frankly and unreservedly.
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