Ways and Means

For my part I have always held that the constitution of a state reflects the character of the leading politicians.[*](See Introduction.) But some of the leading men at Athens have stated that they recognize justice as clearly as other men; but, they have said, owing to the poverty of the masses, we are forced to be somewhat unjust in our treatment of the cities. This set me thinking whether by any means the citizens might obtain food entirely from their own soil, which would certainly be the fairest way. I felt that, were this so, they would be relieved of their poverty, and also of the suspicion with which they are regarded by the Greek world.