Isocrates, Antidosis, section 317

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Nicocles or the Cyprians

Against the Sophists

Extract from the Panegyricus

Extracts from oration On the Peace

Extract from discourse To Nicocles

Extract from Against the Sophists

Concerning the Team of Horses

Against Callimachus

Against Lochites

Against Euthynus

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[317] thinking that by their bravado and contentiousness they would be able to preserve the rule of the people,¹ while because of the meanness of their origin they would not become overweening nor ambitious² to overturn the constitution.

And since this change has taken place, what calamity has not been visited upon the city? What great misfortunes have these depraved natures failed to bring to pass through their speech and through their actions?

1 That is, vigilance exercised by loud-mouthed demagogues is the price of liberty.

2 Cf. Dem. 13.173: ἔστι δ᾽ οὐδέποτ᾽, οἶμαι, δυνατὸν μικρὰ καὶ φαῦλα πράταττοντας μέγα καὶ νεανικὸν φρόνημα λαβεῖν.

Isocrates. Isocrates with an English Translation in three volumes, by George Norlin, Ph.D., LL.D. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1980.

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