Pericles

Our constitution is called a democracy because power is in the hands not of a minority but of the whole people. When it is a question of settling private disputes, everyone is equal before the law; when it is a question of putting one person before another in positions of public responsibility, what counts is not membership of a particular class, but the actual ability which the man possesses. No one, so long as he has it in him to be of service to the state, is kept in obscurity because of poverty. And, just as our political life is free and open, so is our everyday life in our relations with each other.

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.

We are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness.

For we are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the intellect without effeminacy.

We are lovers of wisdom without being soft.

We are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness. Wealth we employ rather for use than for show, and regard poverty not as a thing to be ashamed of, but as an obstacle to be overcome.

For we are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness. To confess poverty is no disgrace to a man, but to make no effort to escape it is indeed disgraceful.

We are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness. We regard wealth as something to be used, not to be boasted about.

We are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness. And we are not ashamed of poverty, but we are ashamed of not trying to escape it.

We are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness. We do not allow our public duties to interfere with our private affairs, nor our private affairs with our public duties.

We are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness. We are the school of Hellas.

We are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness. For we are not only an example to others, but we are also a model for ourselves.

We are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness. We are not afraid to discuss our policies, for we believe that discussion is a necessary prelude to action.

We are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness. We do not consider a man who takes no interest in public affairs to be a harmless but a useless character.

We are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness. We are not afraid to think for ourselves, nor to act for ourselves.

We are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness. We are not afraid to face danger, nor to suffer hardship.

We are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness. We are not afraid to die for our country, nor to live for it.

We are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness. We are not afraid to be ourselves, nor to be different.

We are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness. We are not afraid to be free, nor to be responsible.

We are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness. We are not afraid to be human, nor to be divine.