But no such thing can come to pass until you are persuaded that tranquillity is more
 advantageous and more profitable than meddlesomeness, Meddlesomeness, ἡ πολυπραγμοσύνη , is used here
 and elsewhere in the speech as the opposite of ἡσυχία ( or σωφροσύνη , moderation,
 self-control). The latter contains the idea of quiet living and minding one’s own
 business in private relations, and in foreign relations, of pursuing peace and avoiding
 aggression. 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, Cf. Isoc. 12.30 . others one which
 completely misses their true advantage. Advantage in the
 good sense, which works no disadvantage to others. Cf. Isoc.
 3.2 , Isocrates, Vol. I., L.C.L.; Isoc.
 15.275 . 
 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 In the Confederacy of Delos the quotas paid to Athens to support the league were termed φόροι , which, when Athens made
 it compulsory, came to have the invidious meaning “tribute moneys.” In the New Naval
 League, the term συντάξεις , contributions, was
 substituted. Cf. Isoc. 15.123 and Isoc. 7.2 . and send representatives To
 the Common Council of the allies, τὸ κοινὸν συνέδριον τῶν
 συμμάχιων , which met in Athens . 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, At the end of the Peloponnesian War, which was the
 end of the Confederacy of Delos and of the
 Empire of Athens . 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 In 478 B.C. , when
 the Confederacy of Delos (see Isoc. 12.67 ff. and notes)was formed, Thucydides states that
 the Ionian Greeks came to Athens and asked
 her to take the hegemony. See i. 95, 96. Cf. Isoc.
 4.72 . —considerations which now and for a long time past, without reason
 and with utter recklessness, we have treated with contempt.