42.
'I am far from blaming those who invite us to reconsider our sentence upon the
Mytilenaeans, nor do I approve of the censure which has been cast on the practice of
deliberating more than once about matters so critical.
In my opinion the two things most adverse to good counsel are haste and passion; the
former is generally a mark of folly, the latter of vulgarity and narrowness
of mind.
[2]
When a man insists that words ought1 not to be our guides in action2 he is either wanting in sense or wanting in honesty: he is wanting in sense if
he does not see that there is no other way in which we can throw light on the unknown
future; and he is not honest if, seeking to carry a discreditable measure, and knowing
that he cannot speak well in a bad cause, he reflects that he can slander well and
terrify his opponents and his audience by the audacity of his calumnies.
[3]
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 reputation for sense but not for honesty;
[4]
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.
[5]
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 fair 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.
[6]
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.
1 We are right in reconsidering the case of the Mytilenaeans. He is foolish, even if he be honest, who would have no deliberation: still worse is he who insinuates that his opponent is corrupt, instead of meeting him by fair arguments. The wise city makes room for all, and shows favour to none.
Thucydides translated into English; with introduction, marginal analysis, notes, and indices. Volume 1. Thucydides. Benjamin Jowett. translator. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1881.
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