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First of all, men of Athens, it is not
altogether surprising that those who wish to tender you advice do not readily find the
words, because, when the conditions that require consideration are bad, it is inevitable
that the recommendations made concerning them should also be disagreeable. Of course, if
by your refusing to listen there is hope of this situation becoming better, that is the
thing to do, but if everything is going to get worse and nothing better by so doing, why
should you, having allowed things to come to the worst, after a longer interval than has
now elapsed, and with greater difficulty, try to save the situation, though, starting from
present conditions, it is still possible even now to set things to rights and effect a
change for the better?
Demosthenes with an English translation by Norman W. DeWitt, Ph.D., and Norman J. DeWitt, Ph.D. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1949.
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