Perhaps they might have helped us to get something done; but even if they had given up
 before gaining their object, they would, at any rate, have left to us their words as
 oracles for the future. But as things are, those who are held in highest honor are intent
 on matters of little consequence, and have left it to us, who stand aloof from public
 life, For Isocrates’ aloofness from public life see Isoc. 5.81 ; Isoc. 12.9-10 ; Isoc. Letter 1.9 ; Isoc. Letter
 8.7 ; and General Introd. p. xix. to advise on matters of so great
 moment. Nevertheless, the more faint-hearted our leading men happen to be, the more vigorously
 must the rest of us look to the means by which we shall deliver ourselves from our present
 discord. For as matters now stand, it is in vain that we make our treaties of peace; for
 we do not settle our wars, but only postpone them and wait for the opportune moment when
 we shall have the power to inflict some irreparable disaster upon each other. We must clear from our path these treacherous designs and pursue that course of action
 which will enable us to dwell in our several cities with greater security and to feel
 greater confidence in each other. What I have to say on these points is simple and easy:
 It is not possible for us to cement an enduring peace unless we join together in a war
 against the barbarians, nor for the Hellenes to attain to concord until we wrest our
 material advantages from one and the same source and wage our wars against one and the
 same enemy. That is, instead of warring among themselves
 and plundering each other, the Greeks must wage their wars against, and seek their
 plunder from, the barbarians. Cf. 15 and 187; Isoc.
 5.9 . 
 When these conditions have been realized, and when we have been freed from the poverty
 which afflicts our lives—a thing that breaks up friendships, perverts the affections of
 kindred into enmity, and plunges the whole world into war and strife Cf. Theognis, 386 ff. —then surely we shall enjoy a spirit of concord,
 and the good will which we shall feel towards each other will be genuine. For all these
 reasons, we must make it our paramount duty to transfer the war with all speed from our
 boundaries to the continent, since the only benefit which we can reap from the wars which
 we have waged against each other is by resolving that the experience which we have gained
 from them shall be employed against the barbarians. But is it not well, you may perhaps ask, on account of the Treaty, The Treaty of Antalcidas. See 115-120 and notes. to curb ourselves and
 not be over-hasty or make the expedition too soon, seeing that the states which have
 gained their freedom through the Treaty feel grateful toward the King, because they
 believe that it was through him that they gained their independence, while those states
 which have been delivered over to the barbarians complain very bitterly of the
 Lacedaemonians and only less bitterly of the other Hellenes who entered into the peace,
 because, in their view, they were forced by them into slavery? But, I reply, is it not our
 duty to annul this agreement, which has given birth to such a sentiment—the sentiment that
 the barbarian cares tenderly for Hellas , and
 stands guard over her peace, while among ourselves are to be found those who outrage and
 evilly entreat her?