Demosthenes Quotes
By Alan Reiner – July 17, 2024
‘Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.’ – Demosthenes
‘You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man’s actions are, such must be his spirit.’ – Demosthenes
‘Every dictator is an enemy of freedom, an opponent of law.’ – Demosthenes
‘A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true.’ – Demosthenes
‘All speech is vain and empty unless it be accompanied by action.’ – Demosthenes
‘As a vessel is known by the sound, whether it be cracked or not; so men are proved, by their speeches, whether they be wise or foolish.’ – Demosthenes
‘There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots – suspicion.’ – Demosthenes
‘No man who is not willing to help himself has any right to apply to his friends, or to the gods.’ – Demosthenes
‘Excessive dealings with tyrants are not good for the security of free states.’ – Demosthenes
‘The best protection for the people is not necessarily to believe everything people tell them.’ – Demosthenes
‘What we wish, that we readily believe.’ – Demosthenes
‘I am a citizen of the world.’ – Demosthenes
‘Beware lest in your anxiety to avoid war you obtain a master.’ – Demosthenes
‘What we have in us of the image of God is the love of truth and justice.’ – Demosthenes
‘The readiest and surest way to get rid of censure, is to correct ourselves.’ – Demosthenes
‘To remind a man of the good turns you have done him is very much like a reproach.’ – Demosthenes
‘Close alliances with despots are never safe for free states.’ – Demosthenes