[25]
While it stands to reason that many
influences helped to make them what they were, not least was their virtue
ascribable to our form of government.1 For though absolute governments dominated by a few
create fear in their citizens, they fail to awaken the sense of shame.
Consequently, when the test of war comes, everyone lightheartedly proceeds to
save himself, knowing full well that if only he succeeds in appeasing his
masters by presents or any other civility whatsoever, even though he becomes
guilty of the most revolting conduct, only slight reproach will attach to him
thereafter.
1 This topic is treated in Plat. Menex. 238b-239d. Blass compares Dem. 20.108, but the similarity is not impressive.
Demosthenes. Demosthenes with an English translation by Norman W. DeWitt, Ph.D., and Norman J. DeWitt, Ph.D. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1949.
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