[17]
But if I leave off speaking at this point, I know that I shall appear to put Athens at a disadvantage, if, that is to say, the Thebans are to retain possession of Thespiae and Plataea1 and the other cities2 which they have seized contrary to their oaths,3 while we are to retire, under no compulsion to do so, from the territory which we now hold. But if you will only listen to me and give me your attention to the end, I believe that you will all impute extreme folly and madness to those who think that injustice is advantageous and who would hold in subjection by force the cities of others, failing to reckon with the disasters which result from such a policy.
1 See Isoc. 6.27, note.
2 Orchomenus （Dio. Sic. 15.79）, Oropus （Dio. Sic. 15.76）.
3 When they agreed to the Peace of Antalcidas.
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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