Source edition
Demosthenes. Orationes, Vol. I. Butcher, S. H., editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1903.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This speech is a political oration urging the citizens of Athens to prepare for a decisive conflict against King Philip II of Macedon. The orator begins by exposing Philip's insincerity regarding peace and highlighting the growing distrust among Macedon's allies, as well as the inherent vulnerabilities of the Macedonian state. He goes on to analyze the internal divisions within the Macedonian regime, pointing out that Philip's excessive desire for glory contrasts with the dissatisfaction of his subordinates, which temporarily masks their fragility. Finally, the orator sharply criticizes the Athenian citizens for their laziness and reliance on mere rhetoric, which have caused them to fall behind despite their historical advantages. He concludes with a powerful call to immediately initiate concrete military preparations and embrace the necessary self-sacrifice for the war.