Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/329

41,42] SPEECH OF DIODOTUS 2I3 of folly, the latter of vulgarity and narrowness of mind. When a man insists that words ought not to be our guides in action a he is ^^'/."' "f^" '" "'; . . ' coitsiacnng the case of either wanting in sense or wanting in the Mytiiomcans. lie honesty: he is wanting in sense if he is jooUsh, even if he be does not see that there is no other way '"'""/'«'/"' would have •'no deliberation : still in which we can throw light on the worse is he ivho umnu- unknown future; and he is not honest <"^" i^i'it /"« opponent if, seeking to carry a discreditable corrupt instead of ^ / nieetiiig hmi bv fair measure, and knowing that he cannot an^nments. The wise speak well in a bad cause, he reflects city mairs room for all, that he can slander well and terrify '""^ ""' >""'"' '" -' none. his opponents and his audience by the audacity of his calumnies. Worst of all are those who, besides other topics of abuse, declare that their opponent is hired to make an eloquent speech. If they accused him of stupidity only, when he failed in producing an impression he might go his way having lost his reputa- tion for sense but not for honesty; whereas he who is accused of dishonesty, even if he succeed, is viewed with suspicion, and, if he fail, is thought to be both fool and rogue. And so the city suffers; for she is robbed of her counsellors by fear. Happy would she be if such citizens could not speak at all, for then the people would not be misled. The good citizen should prove his superiority as a speaker, not by trying to intimidate those who are to follow him in debate, but by lair argument; and the wise city ought not to give increased honour to her best counsellor, any more than she will deprive him of that which he has ; while he whose proposal is rejected not only ought to receive no punishment, but should be free from all reproach. Then he who succeeds will not say pleasant things contrary to his better judgment in order to gain a still higher place in popular favour, and he who fails will not be striving to attract the multitude to himself by like compliances. ' Cp. ii. 40 med.