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[11]

Now all these instances, where I appear to have had a clearer foresight than the rest, I shall not refer to a single cause, men of Athens—my real or pretended cleverness1; nor will I claim that my knowledge and discernment were due to anything else than two things, which I will mention. One, men of Athens, was good luck, which my experience tells me is worth all the cleverness and wisdom in the world.

1 The Greek here is difficult. Most edd. awkwardly render ἀλαζονεία“[cause for] boasting”: it is rather political quackery passing muster for real statesmanship.

Demosthenes. Demosthenes with an English translation by J. H. Vince, M.A. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1930.

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  • Commentary references to this page (1):
    • J. E. Sandys, Select Private Orations of Demosthenes, 34
  • Cross-references to this page (1):
    • Basil L. Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, The Article
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