Aeschines

A defeat in war is not the greatest of all evils; but when the defeat has been inflicted by enemies who are not worthy of you, then the calamity is doubled.

Lying rumours do not penetrate farther than our ears.

Amnesty, that noble word, the genuine dictate of wisdom.

Men of real merit, and whose noble and glorious deeds we are ready to acknowledge, are yet not to be endured when they vaunt their own actions.

It is acknowledged, namely, that there are in the world three forms of government, autocracy, oligarchy, and democracy: autocracies and oligarchies are administered according to the tempers of their lords, but democratic states according to established laws.

Right is not unlimited, but is limited by the laws.

An evil nature wielding great authority brings misfortune upon the community.

Truth is strong enough to overcome all human sophistries.

For then only will you be strong, when you cherish the laws, and when the revolutionary attempts of lawless men shall have ceased.

Be assured, fellow citizens, that in a democracy it is the laws that guard the person of the citizen and the constitution of the state, whereas the despot and the oligarch find their protection in suspicion and in armed guards.

Author details

Aeschines: Biography and Life Work

Aeschines was a notable Greek statesman and one of the ten Attic orators.

Aeschines was a Greek statesman and one of the ten Attic orators .

Philosophical Views and Reflections

This oration, Against Timarchus , is considered important because of the bulk of Athenian laws it cites. As a consequence of his successful attack on Timarchus, Aeschines was cleared of the charge of treason.

Aeschines went into voluntary exile at Rhodes (to avoid the judgement of the jury, which was likely a large sum of money), where he opened a school of rhetoric . He afterwards removed to Samos , where he died aged 75. His three speeches, called by the ancients "the Three Graces," rank next to those of Demosthenes. Photius knew of nine letters by him which he called The Nine Muses ; the twelve published under his name ( Hercher , Epistolographi Graeci ) are not genuine.

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Empery Quotes
Inspire · Reflect · Repeat