Pericles Quotes

Pericles Quotes
Relative to the Greek Salon Questions
1) Roles and duty of an Athenian Citizen:
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“Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you.”
“An Athenian Citizen does not neglect the state because he takes care of his own household; and even those of us who are engaged in business have a very fair idea of politics.” “Having knowledge but lacking the power to express it clearly is no better than never having any ideas at all.”

2) Eternity/Afterlife Views:
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“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”
“The whole earth is the tomb of heroic men and their story is not given only on stone over their clay but abides everywhere without visible symbol woven into the stuff of other men’s’ lives.”

3) Government’s Role:
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“Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it. ”

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“Our form of government does not enter into rivalry with the institutions of others. We do not copy our neighbors, but are an example to them. It is true that we are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not of the few.
But while the laws secure equal justice to all alike in their private disputes, the claim of excellence is also recognized; and when a citizen is in any way distinguished he is preferred to the public service, not as a matter of privilege, but as the reward of merit. "Neither is poverty a bar, for a man may benefit his country whatever be the obscurity of his conditions. There is no exclusiveness in our public life, and in our private intercourses we are not suspicious of one another, nor angry with our neighbor if he does what he likes; we do not give him sour looks which, though harmless, are not pleasant.” •

“Although only a few may originate a policy, we are all able to judge it.”

4) Democracy’s Role:
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“We alone regard a man who takes no interest in public affairs, not as a harmless, but as a useless characrer; and if few of us asre originators, we are all sound judges of a policy.” 5) Nature of Truth:
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“Wait for that wisest of all counselors, Time.”

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“For to speak of men in a just measure, is a hard matter: and though one do so, yet he shall hardly get the truth firmly believed.”

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“Our love of what is beautiful does not lead to extravagance; our love of the things of the mind does not make us soft. We regard wealth as something to be properly used, rather than as something to boast about. As for poverty, no one need be ashamed to admit it, the real shame is in not taking practical measures to escape from it.”

6) Woman View:
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“A woman's greatest glory is to be little talked about by men, whether for good or ill. ”