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 work is a political oration that calls for the reorganization of Athens' state institutions and a fundamental renewal of the civic spirit. Sparked by debates over public distributions, the speaker urges the Athenian citizens to perform military service themselves, emphasizing the urgent need for military organization and better relations with allies. He sharply criticizes contemporary politicians for their self-interest and factionalism, which threaten the democracy from within. To highlight this corruption, he contrasts the present state with the glorious deeds of their ancestors, who lived modestly in private and attributed victories to the state rather than to individual generals. Condemning the current citizens' habit of passing decrees without taking action, the speech concludes by urging them to either match their ancestors' pride with actual strength or recognize their limitations, calling above all for an inner reform of the populace.