On the Peace (26-30)

But no such thing can come to pass until you are persuaded that tranquillity is more advantageous and more profitable than meddlesomeness,[*] justice than injustice, and attention to one’s own affairs than covetousness of the possessions of others. This is a theme on which none of the orators has ever made bold to address you. I, however, shall devote most of my discourse to this very subject. For I observe that happiness is to be found in these ways of life and not in those which we now follow.

But anyone who attempts to discourse on a subject out of the common and who desires to bring about a change in your opinions must needs touch upon many matters and speak somewhat at length, now reminding, now rebuking, now commending, and again counselling you. For hardly with all these aids can you be led to a better way of thinking.

For the matter stands thus. It seems to me that, while all men crave their advantage and desire to be better off than the rest, they do not all know the kind of conduct which leads to this end but differ from each other in judgement, some possessing a judgement which is sound and capable of hitting the right course of action,[*] others one which completely misses their true advantage.[*]

And this is the very thing which has happened to our city; for we think that, if we sail the sea with many triremes and compel the various states to pay contributions[*] and send representatives[*] to Athens, we have accomplished something to the purpose. But in fact, we have been completely misled as to the truth; for of the hopes which we cherished not one has been fulfilled; on the contrary, we have reaped from them hatreds and wars and great expense. And this was to be expected;

for in former times as the result of such meddlesomeness we were placed in the utmost peril,[*] while as the result of keeping our city in the path of justice and of giving aid to the oppressed and of not coveting the possessions of others we were given the hegemony by the willing consent of the Hellenes[*]—considerations which now and for a long time past, without reason and with utter recklessness, we have treated with contempt.