Pericles — "We alone regard a man who takes no interest in public affairs, not as a harmless…"
We alone regard a man who takes no interest in public affairs, not as a harmless, but as a useless character.
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From Thucydides' 'History of the Peloponnesian War', Pericles' Funeral Oration. This is a highly provocative statement, essentially shaming those who are not politically active, which could be seen as divisive and intolerant of individual preferences.
Date: 431 BC (approximate, as recorded by Thucydides)
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