No one, for example, would reproach Epidaurians or Corinthians or Phliasians if they
 thought of nothing else than to escape destruction and save their own lives; we men of
 Lacedaemon , however, cannot seek our
 deliverance at all costs, but if to “safety” we cannot add “with honor,” then for us death
 with good repute is preferable; for those who lay claim to valor must make it the supreme
 object of their lives never to be found doing a shameful thing. But the cowardice of states is made manifest in deliberations like these no less than in
 the perils of war; for the greatest part of what takes place on the battle-field is due to
 fortune, but what is resolved upon here is a token of our very spirit. Wherefore we should
 strive for success in the measures to be adopted here with an emulation no less keen than
 we show in the lists of war. I marvel at those who are willing to die for their personal glory, but have not the same
 feeling for the glory of the state, for which we may well suffer anything whatsoever to
 avoid bringing shame upon our city, nor should we permit it to abandon the post in which
 it was established by our forefathers. It is true that many difficulties and dangers beset
 us; these we must avoid, but first and foremost we should be careful that we are never found
 doing any cowardly deed or making any unjust concessions to the foe; for it would be
 shameful if we, who once Spartan supremacy lasted,
 theoretically, more than thirty years, from the end of the Peloponnesian War ( 404 B.C. ) to the battle of Leuctra. Meantime, however, the
 Athenians secured for a short period their second naval empire ( 378
 B.C. ). were thought worthy to rule the Hellenes, should be seen carrying
 out their commands, and should fall so far below our forefathers that, while they were
 willing to die in order that they might dictate to others, Thucydides, i. 140, puts in the mouth of Pericles the assertion that the Spartans
 prefer to resolve their complaints by war and not by words, dictating terms instead of
 bringing charges. we would not dare to hazard a battle in order that we might
 prevent others from dictating to us. We may well be ashamed when we think of the Olympian and the other national assemblies,
 where every one of us used to be more envied and more admired than the athletes who carry
 off victories in the games. But who would dare attend them now, when instead of being
 honored he would be scorned, when instead of being sought out by all because of his valor,
 he would be conspicuous among all for his cowardice,