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55.

On these great and historical occasions such was the part that we chose, although afterwards we became your enemies. For this you were to blame. When we asked for your alliance against our Theban oppressors, you rejected our petition, and told us to go to the Athenians who were our neighbors, as you lived too far off. [2] In the war we never have done to you, and never should have done to you, anything unreasonable. [3] If we refused to desert the Athenians when you asked us, we did no wrong; they had helped us against the Thebans when you drew back, and we could no longer give them up with honor; especially as we had obtained their alliance and had been admitted to their citizenship at our own request, and after receiving benefits at their hands; but it was plainly our duty loyally to obey their orders. [4] Besides, the faults that either of you may commit in your supremacy must be laid, not upon the followers, but on the chiefs that lead them astray.

Thucydides. The Peloponnesian War. London, J. M. Dent; New York, E. P. Dutton. 1910.

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  • Commentary references to this page (11):
    • Sir Richard C. Jebb, Commentary on Sophocles: Oedipus Tyrannus, 911-1085
    • W. W. How, J. Wells, A Commentary on Herodotus, 6.108
    • Charles F. Smith, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 3, 3.13
    • Charles F. Smith, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 3, 3.20
    • Charles F. Smith, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 3, 3.58
    • Charles F. Smith, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 3, 3.61
    • Charles F. Smith, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 3, 3.63
    • Charles F. Smith, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 3, 3.65
    • Charles F. Smith, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 3, 3.68
    • Charles F. Smith, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 3, 3.93
    • C.E. Graves, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 5, 5.66
  • Cross-references to this page (4):
    • Herbert Weir Smyth, A Greek Grammar for Colleges, NEGATIVE SENTENCES
    • Raphael Kühner, Bernhard Gerth, Ausführliche Grammatik der griechischen Sprache, KG 3.5.3
    • Raphael Kühner, Bernhard Gerth, Ausführliche Grammatik der griechischen Sprache, KG 3.6.1
    • Raphael Kühner, Bernhard Gerth, Ausführliche Grammatik der griechischen Sprache, KG 3.pos=7.2
  • Cross-references in notes to this page (1):
    • Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Thuc. 3.65
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries to this page (6):
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