History of the Peloponnesian War

But such has not been their conduct either towards others or towards us. The attitude of our colony towards us has always been one of estrangement, and is now one of hostility; for, say they,

We were not sent out to be ill-treated.

We rejoin that we did not found the colony to be insulted by them, but to be their head, and to be regarded with a proper respect.

At any rate, our other colonies honor us, and we are very much beloved by our colonists;

and clearly, if the majority are satisfied with us, these can have no good reason for a dissatisfaction in which they stand alone, and we are not acting improperly in making war against them, nor are we making war against them without having received signal provocation.

Besides, if we were in the wrong, it would be honorable in them to give way to our wishes, and disgraceful for us to trample on their moderation;