So severely did they abstain from what belonged to the state that it was harder in those
days to find men who were willing to hold officeCf. Isoc. 12.146; Plat. Rep.
347b, Plat. Rep. 520d; Ruskin, Crown of Wild Olive: “No one ever
teaches well who wants to teach or governs well who wants to govern: it is an old saying
(Plato's but I know not if his first) and as wise as old.” than it is now to find
men who are not begging for the privilege; for they did not regard a charge over public
affairs as a chance for private gain but as a service to the state; neither did they from
their first day in office seek to discover whether their predecessors had overlooked any
source of profit, but much rather whether they had neglected any business of the state
which pressed for settlement.
In a word, our forefathers had resolved that the people as the supreme master of the
state, should appoint the magistrates, call to account those who failed in their duty, and
judge in cases of dispute; while those citizens who could afford the time and possessed
sufficient meansAristotle (Aristot. Pol. 1274a 15 ff.) states that Solon gave
to the populace the sovereign power of selecting their magistrates and of calling them
to account, though the selection had to be made from “men of reputation and
means.” should devote themselves to the care of the commonwealth, as servants of
the people,
entitled to receive commendation if they proved faithful to their trust, and contenting
themselves with this honor, but condemned, on the other hand, if they governed badly, to
meet with no mercy, but to suffer the severest punishment.The same idea is developed in Isoc. 12.147. And
how, pray, could one find a democracy more stable or more just than this, which appointed
the most capable men to have charge of its affairs but gave to the people authority over
their rulers?
Such was the constitution of their polity, and from this it is easy to see that also in
their conduct day by day they never failed to act with propriety and justice; for when
people have laid sound foundations for the conduct of the whole state it follows that in
the details of their lives they must reflect the character of their government.