Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.120

[1] "Confederates, we can no longer accuse the Lacedaemonians, they having both decreed the war themselves and also assembled us to do the same. For it is fit for them who have the command in a common league, as they are honoured of all before the rest, so also (administering their private affairs equally with others) to consider before the rest of the common business.

[2] And though as many of us as have already had our turns with the Athenians need not be taught to beware of them, yet it were good for those that dwell up in the land, and not as we in places of traffic on the sea side, to know that unless they defend those below, they shall with a great deal the more difficulty both carry to the sea the commodities of the seasons and again more hardly receive the benefits afforded to the inland countries from the sea; and also not to mistake what is now spoken, as if it concerned them not, but to make account that if they neglect those that dwell by the sea, the calamity will also reach to themselves;

[3] and that this consultation concerneth them no less than us, and therefore not to be afraid to change their peace for war. For though it be the part of discreet men to be quiet unless they have wrong, yet it is the part of valiant men, when they receive injury, to pass from peace into war, and after success, from war to come again to composition, and neither to swell with the good success of war nor to suffer injury through pleasure taken in the ease of peace.

[4] For he whom pleasure makes a coward, if he sit still, shall quickly lose the sweetness of the ease that made him so. And he that in war is made proud by success observeth not that his pride is grounded upon unfaithful confidence.

[5] For though many things ill advised come to good effect against enemies worse advised, yet more, thought well advised, have fallen but badly out against well advised enemies. For no man comes to execute a thing with the same confidence he premeditates it. For we deliver opinions in safety, whereas in the action itself we fail through fear.

[1] ‘Fellow allies, we can no longer accuse the Lacedaemonians of having failed in their duty: they have not only voted for war themselves, but have assembled us here for that purpose. We say their duty, for supremacy has its duties. Besides equitably administering private interests, leaders are required to show a special care for the common welfare in return for the special honors accorded to them by all in other ways.

[2] For ourselves, all who have already had dealings with the Athenians require no warning to be on their guard against them. The states more inland and out of the highway of communication should understand that if they omit to support the coast powers, the result will be to injure the transit of their produce for exportation and the reception in exchange of their imports from the sea; and they must not be careless judges of what is now said, as if it had nothing to do with them, but must expect that the sacrifice of the powers on the coast will one day be followed by the extension of the danger to the interior, and must recognize that their own interests are deeply involved in this discussion.

[3] For these reasons they should not hesitate to exchange peace for war. If wise men remain quiet, while they are not injured, brave men abandon peace for war when they are injured, returning to an understanding on a favorable opportunity: in fact, they are neither intoxicated by their success in war, nor disposed to take an injury for the sake of the delightful tranquillity of peace.

[4] Indeed, to falter for the sake of such delights is, if you remain inactive, the quickest way of losing the sweets of repose to which you cling; while to conceive extravagant pretensions from success in war is to forget how hollow is the confidence by which you are elated.

[5] For if many ill-conceived plans have succeeded through the still greater fatuity of an opponent, many more, apparently well laid, have on the contrary ended in disgrace. The confidence with which we form our schemes is never completely justified in their execution; speculation is carried on in safety, but, when it comes to action, fear causes failure.

„Jetzt, ihr Bundesgenossen, dürften wir die Lakedämonier
nicht mehr beschuldigen, daß sie den Krieg nicht beschlossen hätten,
da sie uns eben in dieser Absicht jetzt versammelt haben. Und in der
That geziemt es sich auch denen, welche die Oberleitung haben, ihren
eigenen Angelegenheiten nur nach der rechtlichen Gleichheit Rechnung
zu tragen, die gemeinsamen aber vor Allem in's Auge zu fassen, da
sie ja auch in andern Stücken vor Allen die Ehre voraus haben. WaS
aber nnS betrifft, so darf man diejenigen, welche mit den Athenern
schon verkehrt haben, nickt erst aufmerksam machen, daß sie vor jenen
auf ihrer Hut sein müssen; die aber nicht an einem Seehafen, sondern
tiefer im Lande wohnen, müssen wissen, daß ihnen die Ausfuhr der
Landesfrüchte ind der Eintausch der Dinge, welche das feste Land vom
Meere empfängt, sehr erschwert werden wird, wenn sie jetzt den
Seeanwohnern nicht beistehen. Sie sollen sich darum nicht als schlechte
Beurtheilcr zeigen und sagen, daß sie das Nichts angehe, was wir hier
vorbringen. Sie mögen sich nur gefaßt machen, daß das liebe! auch
bis an sie heranbringen wird, wenn sie jetzt daS Küstenland im Stich
lassen, und sollen überzeugt sein, daß sich die Berathung auch um ihr
eignes Wohl dreht. Darum dürfen sie auch nicht zaudern, den Frieden
mit dem Krieg zu vertauschen. Denn vernünftige Männer verhalten
sich zwar ruhig, so lange sie nicht beleidigt werden, tapfere Männer
aber stehen nicht an, den Krieg dem Frieden vorzuziehen, wenn ihr
Recht gekränkt worden ist; wenn eS sich ihnen dann wohl schickt, gehen
sie vom Krieg wieder zum Frieden über, und überheben sich weder des
Glücks im Kriegs, noch erkaufen sie vergnügliche Ruhe deS Friedens
durch Erduldung von Unrecht. Denn wer solches Genusses halber
zaudert, der möchte wohl, wenn er in Gemächlichkeit verharrt, sehr
bald um die Freude an der bequemen Ruhe betrogen werden, die ihn
zum Zaudern verleitet. Wer sich aber im Kriege seines Glückes
überhebt, der bedenkt nicht, wie trüglich die Zuversicht ist, auf die fein
Uebermuth sich gründet. Denn eS ist schon mancher schlechte Plan
gelungen, nur weil die Feinde zufällig noch übeler berathen waren, und
noch weit öfter geschiehteS, daßdieanfhceinendvernünstigstenEntwürfe
auf schimpfliche Weise in's Gegentheil umschlagen. Denn Niemand geht
mit derselben Sicherheit an die That, mit welcher der Rath kommt,
sondern Zuversicht henschtbeim Nath,ZagheitundHalbheitbeidcrThat."

CXX. « Généreux alliés, nous ne pouvons plus adresser de reproches aux Lacédémoniens ; car ce n’est qu’après avoir eux-mêmes décrété la guerre, qu’ils nous appellent aujourd’hui à nous prononcer. C’est ainsi que doivent agir ceux à qui est dévolu le commandement : partisans de l’égalité chez eux ; mais, dès qu’il s’agit des intérêts communs, jaloux d’y pourvoir les premiers, comme ils sont aussi, en toute occasion, l’objet des premiers honneurs.

« Ceux d’entre nous qui ont eu des rapports avec les Athéniens n’ont pas besoin d’apprendre à se tenir en garde contre eux ; mais ceux qui habitent l’intérieur, loin des places de commerce, doivent songer que, s’ils ne viennent au secours des habitants de la côte, ils auront eux-mêmes plus de difficulté à exporter leurs denrées et à recevoir en échange ce que la mer apporte au continent. Ils jugeraient mal les intérêts actuels s’ils croyaient y être étrangers ; ils doivent songer au contraire qu’en délaissant les villes maritimes, le danger viendra jusqu’à eux, et que c’est sur eux-mêmes, non moins que sur nous, qu’ils délibèrent en ce moment. Qu’ils ne craignent donc pas d’échanger la paix pour la guerre : sans doute il est de la prudence de rester en repos quand on n’a pas été lésé ; mais aussi, en présence d’une injustice, l’homme de coeur n’hésite pas à renoncer à la paix pour courir aux armes, sauf à traiter ensuite, une fois le succès obtenu. S’il n’est pas enivré par la victoire, il n’est point non plus énervé par le repos et la paix, au point de se résigner à l’injustice ; car celui que les jouissances rendent timide sera bientôt, s’il reste oisif, dépouillé de ce placide bien-être pour lequel il craint tant ; et celui qui, à la guerre, se laisse enfler par le succès, ne songe pas qu’il obéit aux entraînements d’une audace perfide. Bien des entreprises inconsidérées ont réussi contre des adversaires plus inconsidérés encore ; mais beaucoup d’autres, et même en plus grand nombre, paraissaient parfaitement conçues, qui n’ont au contraire abouti qu’à la honte. C’est que personne n’apporte dans l’exécution la même confiance que dans la conception d’un projet : on délibère en toute sécurité, et on faiblit, par crainte, quand il faut agir.

« Nous ne pouvons plus reprocher aux Lacédémoniens de n’avoir pas eux-mêmes décrété la guerre, puisqu’ils nous ont rassemblés dans ce but. Tel est le devoir d’une nation qui jouit do la suprématie. Tout en respectant chez elle l’égalité, il faut qu’elle soit la première à veiller pour les intérêts communs, de même qu’elle est la première à recevoir tous les hommages.

« Ceux d’entre nous qui ont eu quelque démêlé avec les Athéniens n’ont pas besoin d’avertissement pour se tenir en garde contre eux. Quant à ceux qui habitent dans l’intérieur et loin des communications maritimes, ils peuvent être certains que, s’ils ne soutiennent pas les habitants des côtes, ils rencontreront plus de difficultés, soit pour l’exportation de leurs denrées, soit pour l’échange des produits que la mer fournit au continent. Ils jugeraient donc, bien mal de la question proposée, s’ils croyaient qu’elle ne les intéresse pas; ils doivent songer que, s’ils abandonnent les villes maritimes, le danger s’étendra jusqu’à eux, et qu’en ce moment ils ne délibèrent pas moins sur leur cause que sur la nôtre.

« Pourquoi donc appréhenderaient-ils de faire succéder la guerre à la paix? Sans doute il est de la prudence de rester en repos tant que nul ne vous outrage ; mais, quand on les offense, les .hommes de cœur n’hésitent pas à courir aux armes, sauf à les déposer en temps opportun ; ils ne se laissent ni éblouir par les triomphes, ni charmer par les douceurs de la paix au point de dévorer une injure. Tel qui redoute la guerre par amour du repos risque de se voir bientôt ravir, par l’effet de son inertie, la jouissance de ce bien-être qu’il craint de perdre ; tel au contraire qui s’acharne à la guerre à cause de ses succès, obéit sans s’en douter à l’entraînement d’une confiance aveugle. Souvent des entreprises mal conçues réussissent grâce à l’imprévoyance des ennemis ; souvent aussi celles qui semblaient le mieux concertées n’aboutissent qu’à un résultat désastreux. C’est que personne ne met à poursuivre ses projets la même ardeur qu’à les former; on se décide avec sécurité ; puis le moment d’agir une fois venu, on est retenu par la crainte.

[1] " Men of the allies, we can no longer complain of the Lacedaemonians that they have not both themselves voted for the war and also brought us together for this object. And that is right; for it is the duty of leaders, while equitably considering their particular interests, to have special regard for the general weal, just as in other matters they are honoured above all.

[2] Now those of us who have had dealings with the Athenians in the past do not need to be taught to be on our guard against them. But those who dwell more in the interior and away from any trade-route should be warned that, if they do not aid those who are on the seaboard, they will find it more difficult to bring the products of the land down to the sea and to get in return what the sea gives to the mainland; and that they should not be careless judges of what is said here, as though it were no concern of theirs, but should expect that, if they abandon the seacoast to its fate, the danger may possibly some day reach them, and that they are deliberating upon their own interests no less than upon ours.

[3] They ought not, therefore, to hesitate a moment to adopt war in place of peace. For though it is the part of men of discretion to remain tranquil should they not be wronged, it behooves brave men, when wronged, to go from peace to war, but when a favourable opportunity offers to abandon war and resume peace again, allowing themselves neither to be elated by success in war nor to be so enamoured of the quiet of peace as to submit to wrong.

[4] For he who for the sake of his comfort shrinks from war is likely, should he remain tranquil, very speedily to forfeit the delights of ease which caused him to shrink; and he who presumes upon his success in war has failed to reflect how treacherous is the confidence which elates him.

[5] For many enterprises which were ill-planned have succeeded because the adversary has proved to be still worse advised, and yet more, which to all appearances were well advised, have turned out the opposite way and brought disgrace. For no one ever carries out a plan with the same confidence with which he conceives it; on the contrary we form our fond schemes with a feeling of security, but when it comes to their execution, we are possessed by fear and fall short of success.

[1] "We can no longer, allies, find fault with the Lacedaemonians, as not having both themselves voted for war, and now brought us together for this purpose: ¹ [though we should have blamed them if they had not done so]. For it is the duty of leaders, while they conduct their private affairs on a footing of equality, to provide for the interests of all; as they are also in other respects honoured above all.

[2] Now as many of us as have already had any dealings with the Athenians require no warning to beware of them; but those who live more in the interior, and not in the high way of communication, ought to know, that if they do not defend those on the coast, they will find the carrying down of their produce [for exportation] more difficult, and the procuring again of those things which the sea affords to the mainland; and they ought not to be indifferent judges of what is now said, as though it did not affect them, but to consider that some time or other, if they should sacrifice the towns on the coast, the danger would reach even to them; and that they are now consulting for themselves no less [than for others].

[3] And for this reason they ought not to shrink from passing to war instead of pence For it is the part of prudent men, indeed, to remain quiet, should they not be injured; but of brave men, when injured, to go from peace to war; and when a good opportunity offers, to come to an understanding again from hostilities; and neither to be elated by their success in war, nor to brook injury through being charmed with the quiet of peace.

[4] For he who shrinks from this course for love of pleasure, would most quickly be deprived of the delights of indolence, for which he shrinks from it, should he remain quiet; and he who in war becomes grasping through success, does not reflect that he is buoyed up by a confidence that cannot be trusted.

[5] For many measures, though badly planned, have yet succeeded, through ² the adversary being still worse advised; and still more have there been which, though seeming to be well arranged, have on the contrary come to a disgraceful issue. For no one ³ conceives his plans with [only] the same degree of confidence as he carries them out in action; but we form our opinions in security, [and therefore with assurance;] whereas we fail in action through fear.

[1] « De Lacedaemoniis, o socii, non amplius conqueri possimus, quasi non et ipsi bellum decreverint, et nos nunc ad hoc convocarint. Decet enim duces, in suis rebus pari conditione usos, publica commoda praecipue spectare.

[2] De nobis vero, quotquot commercium cum Atheniensibus jam habuerunt, non sunt admonendi, ut ab illis caveant; sed illos potius, qui loca mediterranea incolunt, nec in aditu aliquo liabitant, scire oportet, nisi hominibus loca maritima incolentibus opem ferant, majore eos cum difficultate fructus, quos anni tempora ierunt, comportaturos, et vicissim eorum, quae maris usus continenti suppeditat, perceptionem difficiliorem habituros; nec oportet eos malos esse judices rerum, quae nunc dicuntur, quasi ad ipsos minime pertineant; sed exspectare, si res hominum oram maritimam incolentium neglexerint, calamitatem istam ad se quoque tandem perventuram; et sc nunc de se ipsis non ininus consultare.

[3] Quamobrem etiam dubitandum iis non est, quin bellum pro pace sumant. Nara virorum quidem modestorum est, quiescere, si non lacessantur injuria, fortium vero, si injnria afficiantur, post pacem bellum gerere et si commode fieri possit, rursus in gratiam redire, et nec felici bellorum successu extolli, neque pacis Iranquillilate delectatum injurias perferre.

[4] Etenim et qui propter voluptatem dubitat, celerrime privabitur Eae otii jucunditate, propter quam dubitat, si quiescat ; et qui felici rerum successu in bellis abundat, is se audacia infida efferri non animadvertit.

[5] Multa enim male consulta, quum hostes inconsultiores extitissent, felicem exitum habuerunt; et longe plura, quae recte consulta videbantur, contra turpiter ceciderunt. Destinat enim animi fiducia nemo eadem atque in ipso opere exsequitur, sed cum securitate opinamur, cum timore in opere deficimus.

[1] Diesen Grundsätzen, die wir von unsern Vätern überkommen und selber stets bewährt erfunden haben, lasst uns nicht ungetreu werden und nicht binnen weniger Stunden über so viel Menschenleben und Eigenthum, über Staatenglück und Ehre einen übereilten Beschluss fassen, sondern uns Zeit nehmen. Wir haben den Vortheil der Macht, um nichts zu versäumen. Nach Athen also sendet wegen Potidäas und wegen der Beschwerden der Bundesgenossen, besonders da sie eine gerichtliche Entscheidung nicht ablehnen. Wer diese anbietet, den hat man kein Recht als bereits Verurtheilten anzugreifen. Aber zugleich rüstet euch auch zum Kriege. Dies ist das Beste, was ihr beschliessen könnt, und wird bei dem Feind am meisten Eindruck machen.

« Valorosi alleati, noi non avremo più a dolerci che non abbiano anche gli stessi Lacedemoni decretato la guerra ; mentre per questo appunto ci hanno ora congregati. E di vero chi presiede deve mantenere l’egualità nel governa mento dei suoi affari privati, ma essere il primo a travagliarsi nei comuui, in quella guisa medesima che nelF altre cose è avuto in onoranza sopra tutti. A quanti poi sono tra noi che hanno avuto che fare con gli Ateuiesi, non fa bisogno di ammaestramenti per imparare a guardarsene ; ma a quei che abitano più di lungi dal mare, e non sulle coste, fa bisogno sapere che, ove non soccorrano le terre marittime , si renderà loro più difficile il trasportare alla marina i frutti delle diverse stagioni, come all’ incontro il ricevere in compensazione dagli altri ciò che il mare porge alla terraferma. Per lo che non hanno ad essere cattivi giudicatori delle cose ora proposte quasi che per nulla loro appartengano ; ma debbono aspettarsi che abbandonando le terre marittime verrà anche sovr’ essi il flagello ; e comprendere che non meno dell’altrui si tratta ora della loro utilità ; motivo per cui non vuoisi da loro indugiare ad appigliarsi alla guerra più presto che alla pace. Conciossiachè è proprio degli uomini discreti lo star tranquilli se non sieno offesi ; dei generosi passar dalla pace alla guerra se sieno ingiuriati ; e se gli assista la fortuna , dalla guerra tornar nuovamente in pace senza insuperbire pel buono successo delle loro armi ; nè per godere di pacifico riposo lasciarsi sopraffar dagli oltraggi. Chi per quel godimento anneghittisce, andrà ben presto privo del diletto della sua negghienza , per lo cui amore poltrisce : chi pei felici successi della guerra va più là del dovere , si lascia , senza accorgersene, gonfiare da audacia mal sicura. Imperocché molti sono i disegni mal concepiti che hanno retto incontro a nemici poco avveduti ; ma sono anche più quelli i quali, tutto che sembrassero saviamente discorsi, nondimeno hanno sortito vergognoso riuscimento. Perchè la fiducia che si ha nel concepire i disegni non ci accompagna egualmente nell’ eseguirli : anzi nel concepirli ci anima il pensiero di sicurezza, dove il timore ci snerva nell’eseguirli.