But he saw well, Athenians, that all these places are the open prizes of war, that the possessions of the absent naturally belong to the present, those of the remiss to them that will venture and toil.
Demosthenes explains Philip's success by asserting that opportunities and possessions naturally fall to those who are present, venture, and toil.
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Our numerous losses in war may justly be charged to our own negligence; but that they happened not long ago, and that an alliance, to counterbalance them, is open to our acceptance, I must regard as manifestations of divine favor.
Impossible is it,--impossible, Athenians,--to acquire a solid power by injustice and perjury and falsehood.
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.
The present juncture, Athenians, all but proclaims aloud, that you must yourselves take these affairs in hand, if you care for their success.
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