On the Peace

I beg you to be patient also with what I shall say upon this subject and not to impute to me the madness of having chosen to discourse to you on matters so contrary to the general opinion without having something true to say about them. Nay, I believe that I shall make it evident to all that we covet an empire which is neither just nor capable of being attained nor advantageous to ourselves.

Now that it is not just I can show you by lessons which I have learned from yourselves. For when the Lacedaemonians held this power,[*](After 404 B.C.) what eloquence did we not expend in denouncing their rule, contending that it was just for the Hellenes to enjoy independence?

What cities of repute did we not call upon to join the alliance[*](In 395, at Corinth, an anti-Spartan alliance was entered.) which was formed in this cause? How many embassies did we not dispatch to the great King[*](That headed by Conon in 395 B.C. is known.) to convince him that it was neither just nor expedient for one state to dominate the Hellenes? Indeed we did not cease waging war and facing perils both by land and sea until the Lacedaemonians were willing to enter into the treaty which guaranteed our independence.[*](The Peace of Antalcidas.)

At that time, then, we recognized the principle that it is not just for the stronger to rule over the weaker,[*](That is, we recognized it as valid not only in our domestic relations but in our foreign policy.) even as now we recognize it in the nature of the polity which has been established amongst ourselves. But that we could not, if we would, attain to this empire by conquest I think I shall quickly prove. For when, with the help of ten thousand talents,[*](A round number. Cf. Isoc. 15.234. In 126 he speaks of 8000. Thucydides (ii.13. 3) states that 9700 talents was the largest amount ever stored on the Acropolis.) we were not able to retain it, how can we acquire it in our present state of poverty, especially since we are now addicted, not to the ways of life by which we gained it, but to those by which we lost it?

Furthermore, that it is not even for the advantage of the state to accept this empire, if it were offered to us, I think you will learn very quickly from what further I have to say. But first I want to say a word by way of leading up to this point, fearing that, on account of my many strictures, I may give the impression to some of you of having chosen to denounce our city.