Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1.70

[1] "Besides, if there be any that may challenge to exprobate his neighbour, we think ourselves may best do it, especially on so great quarrels as these whereof you neither seem to have any feeling nor to consider what manner of men and how different from you in every kind the Athenians be that you are to contend withal.

[2] For they love innovation and are swift to devise and also to execute what they resolve on. But you on the contrary are only apt to save your own, not devise anything new, nor scarce to attain what is necessary.

[3] They again are bold beyond their strength, adventurous above their own reason, and in danger hope still the best. Whereas your actions are ever beneath your power, and you distrust even what your judgment assures, and being in a danger never think to be delivered. They are stirrers, you studies; they love to be abroad, and you at home the most of any.

[4] For they make account by being abroad to add to their estate; you, if you should go forth against the state of another, would think to impair your own.

[5] They, when they overcome their enemies, advance the farthest and, when they are overcome by their enemies, fall off the least;

[6] and as for their bodies, they use them in the service of the commonwealth as if they were none of their own; but their minds, when they would serve the state, are right their own.

[7] Unless they take in hand what they have once advised on, they account so much lost of their own. And when they take it in hand, if they obtain anything, they think lightly of it in respect of what they look to win by their prosecution. If they fail in any attempt, they do what is necessary for the present and enter presently into other hopes.

[8] For they alone both have and hope for at once whatsoever they conceive through their celerity in execution of what they once resolve on. And in this manner they labour and toil all the days of their lives. What they have, they have no leisure to enjoy for continual getting of more; nor holiday esteem they any, but whereon they effect some matter profitable;

[9] nor think they ease with nothing to do, a less torment than laborious business. So that, in a word, to say they are men born neither to rest themselves nor suffer others is to say the truth.

[1] Besides, we consider that we have as good a right as any one to point out a neighbor's faults, particularly when we contemplate the great contrast between the two national characters; a contrast of which, as far as we can see, you have little perception, having never yet considered what sort of antagonists you will encounter in the Athenians, how widely, how absolutely different from yourselves.

[2] The Athenians are addicted to innovation, and their designs are characterized by swiftness alike in conception and execution; you have a genius for keeping what you have got, accompanied by a total want of invention, and when forced to act you never go far enough.

[3] Again, they are adventurous beyond their power, and daring beyond their judgment, and in danger they are sanguine; your wont is to attempt less than is justified by your power, to mistrust even what is sanctioned by your judgment, and to fancy that from danger there is no release.

[4] Further, there is promptitude on their side against procrastination on yours; they are never at home, you are never from it: for they hope by their absence to extend their acquisitions, you fear by your advance to endanger what you have left behind.

[5] They are swift to follow up a success, and slow to recoil from a reverse.

[6] Their bodies they spend ungrudgingly in their country's cause; their intellect they jealously husband to be employed in her service.

[7] A scheme unexecuted is with them a positive loss, a successful enterprise a comparative failure. The deficiency created by the miscarriage of an undertaking is soon filled up by fresh hopes; for they alone are enabled to call a thing hoped for a thing got, by the speed with which they act upon their resolutions.

[8] Thus they toil on in trouble and danger all the days of their life, with little opportunity for enjoying, being ever engaged in getting: their only idea of a holiday is to do what the occasion demands, and to them laborious occupation is less of a misfortune than the peace of a quiet life.

[9] To describe their character in a word, one might truly say that they were born into the world to take no rest themselves and to give none to others.

Einen Andern zu tadeln glauben wir aber so gut berechtigt
zu sein, wie irgend Jemand, denn die Dinge, um die es sich handelt,
sind von der größten Wichtigkeit. Ihr jedoch scheint davon gar nichts ^{1 2}
zu merken und niemals überlegt zu haben, was für Leute ihr in den
Athenern zu bekämpfen habt, und wie sehr und wie ganz und gar sie
euch überlegen sind. Denn sie sinnen immer auf Neues und sind rasch
bei der Hand, Pläne zu entwerfen und dem Entschluß die That
folgen zu lassen; ihr aber denkt nur daran, das Bestehende zu erhalten
und nichts Neues hinzuzuthun, und führt nicht einmal das
Nothwendige durch die That aus. Hinwieder sind jene über Vermögen
unternehmend, und ihre Tollkühnheit geht noch über ihre eigenen
ersten Entschlüsse hinaus, und grade im Unglück sind sie erst recht
voller Hoffnung; euch hingegen zeichnet es aus, daß eure Thaten hinter
den Kräften zurückbleiben, daß ihr nicht einmal a'üs die zuverlässigsten
Umstände einen Entschluß bauet, und niemals glaubt ein Unglück zu
überstehen. Jene sind rastlos thätig, ihr seid Zauderer; sie sind immer
außer Landes, ihr sitzt immer sein zu Hause; denn sie glauben durch
Abwesenheit von der Heimath ihren Besitz zu mehren, ihr fürchtet
durch Unternehmungen gegen Außen euren Besitz zu schädigen
Wenn jene über ihre Feinde einen Sieg errungen haben, so beuten sie
ihn aus's Gründlichste aus; werden sie aber besiegt, so machen sie sich
sehr wenig daraus. Ihre Leiber geben sie für den Staat dahin, als
wenn deren Besitz das Gleichgiltigste wäre; den Geist aber, insofern
sie mit ihm für jenen wirken, halten sie für ihr eigentlichstes
Besitztum, und wenn sie einen Plan nicht durchführen können, so glauben
sie an ihrem Vermögen Schaden zu leiden; was sie aber durch eine
Unternehmung gewonnen haben, dünkt ihnen gering gegen das, was
sie noch durch ihre Thätigkeit zu erreichen hoffen. Und wenn ihnen ³
einmal ein Anschlag mißlingt, so richten sie ihre Hoffnung auf etwas
Anderes und thun sich damit ein Genüge; denn sie sind die einzigen
Menshcen, bei denen die Hoffnung schon so viel wie der wirkliche
Besitz dessen ist, worauf sie sinnen, weil ihrem Entschluß rasch die
Ausführung folgt. Und so zerarbeiten sie sich ihr ganzes Leben
hindurch unter Mühsal und Gefahren und genießen ihres Besitzes sehr
wenig, da sie immer nur auf neuen Erwerb sinnen, und sie kennen kein
anderes Fest, als thätige Erfüllung ihrer Pflicht, und unthätige Ruhe
halten sie für kein geringeres Uebel als mühselige Arbeit, so daß
Einer, der sie mit wenigen Worten schildern wollte, in Wahrheit von
ihnen sagen könnte, sie seien da, um weder selbst Ruhe zu haben, noch
auch Andere in Ruhe zu lassen."

LXX. « D’ailleurs,nous croyons avoir, autant que personne, le droit d’adresser des reproches à nos voisins, surtout lorsqu’il s’agit de puissants intérêts dont vous ne nous paraissez pas sentir l’importance ; cela tient à ce que vous n’avez jamais réfléchi à ce que sont les Athé- niens, à la différence, en quelque sorte absolue, qui vous sépare des ennemis que vous aurez à combattre.

« Les Athéniens sont novateurs, prompts à concevoir, prompts à exécuter ce qu’ils ont conçu. Vous, au contraire, vous aimez à conserver ce qui est, sans rien imaginer au delà, sans agir, même dans les limites du nécessaire. Ils sont entreprenants au delà de leurs forces, audacieux jusqu’à l’irréflexion, pleins de confiance dans les périls ; chez vous, l’action reste toujours en deçà de la puissance ; ce que la réflexion confirme le mieux vous laisse sans confiance ; toute difficulté vous semble insurmontable. Ils sont remuants, vous ête ; temporisateurs ; leur amour des pérégrinations égale votre attachement au foyer. A leurs yeux les voyages sont un moyen de s’enrichir ; vous craignez par une absence de compromettre même ce que vous possédez. Vainqueurs de leurs ennemis, ils poussent aussi loin que possible leurs avantages ; dans la défaite personne ne se laisse moins abattre. Ils dévouent leur corps à la patrie comme s’il leur était étranger ; leurs pensées ne leur appartiennent en propre que pour les consacrer à son service. Ne pas atteindre l’objet de leur poursuite, c’est, pour eux, être dépouillés d’un bien qui leur appartenait ; l’obtenir, c’est n’avoir rien fait, en comparaison de ce qui reste à faire. Une de leurs espérances a-t-elle échoué, ils la remplacent par une autre, et la mesure n’en est pas moins comblée. Pour eux seuls il n’y a point de différence entre espérer et obtenir ce qu’ils ont conçu, tant est rapide l’exécution de leurs desseins. Et c’est à cela qu’ils consacrent leur vie entière, au milieu des labeurs, des fatigues et des dangers. A peine jouissent-ils de ce qu’ils possèdent, occupés sans cesse d’acquérir. Ils ne connaissent d’autre fête que l’accom- plissement du devoir et font consister le malheur bien plutôt dans une molle oisiveté que dans l’activité laborieuse. On les peindrait bien d’un seul trait en disant qu’ils sont nés pour ne connaître aucun repos et n’en point laisser aux autres.

« D’ailleurs nous pensons avoir, plus que personne, le droit d’infliger le blâme à autrui, éar de graves intérêts sont engagés de notre côté, sans que vous paraissiez vous en faire une juste idée. Vous n’avez pas réfléchi non plus au caractère de ces Athéniens que vous allez avoir à combattre, caractère qui contraste si complètement avec le vôtre.

« Us sont entreprenants et aussi prompts à exécuter un projet qu’à le concevoir; vous, il vous suffit de conserver ce que vous possédez; jamais vous ne visez au delà, jamais voifs ne prenez même les mesures indispensables. Us ont plus d’audace que de force, plus de témérité que de jugement; ils vivent d'espérance au milieu même des revers. Chez vous au contraire Faction ne répond jamais à la puissance ; vous vous défiez des choses même les plus sûres, et ne pensez jamais pouvoir sortir d’un mauvais pas. Ils aiment le mouvement, vous le repos; volontiers ils courent le monde, tandis qu’il n’y a pas d’hommes plus sédentaires que vous; sortir de ses foyers leur paraît un moyen d’accroître ses possessions, à vous de les compromettre. Vainqueurs de leurs ennemis, ils s’élancent à de nouvelles conquêtes; vaincus, ils ne se laissent abattre qu’un instant. Dès qu’il faut servir leur patrie, rien de moins à eux que leurs corps, rien de plus à eux que leur esprit. Échouent-ils dans leurs desseins, ils crient qu’on les dépouille; réussissent-ils, c’est peu en comparaison de ce qu’ils prétendent. Trompés dans leurs efforts, iîs se consolent par de nouvelles combinaisons; pour eux seuls l’espoir est réalisé aussitôt que conçu, tant l’action suit de près la pensée. Tout cela se poursuit avec des fatigues et des dangers sans fin; ils ne se donnent pas le temps de jouir, car ils ont hâte d'acquérir davantage. Pour eux, la meilleure fête, c’est le devoir accompli ¹ ; une oisive tranquillité leur paraît plus à plainàre qu’une activité laborieuse. En sorte que, pour les caractériser d’un seul mot, on peut dire qu’ils sont nés pour n’être jamais en repos et n’y jamais laisser les autres.

[1] " And besides, we have the right, we think, if any men have, to find fault with our neighbours, especially since the interests at stake for us are important. To these interests it seems to us at least that you are insensible, and that you have never even fully considered what sort of men the Athenians are with whom you will have to fight, and how very, how utterly, different they are from you.

[2] For they are given to innovation and quick to form plans and to put their decisions into execution, whereas you are disposed merely to keep what you have, to devise nothing new, and, when you do take action, not to carry to completion even what is indispensable.

[3] Again, they are bold beyond their strength, venturesome beyond their better judgment, and sanguine in the face of dangers; while your way is to do less than your strength warrants, to distrust even what your judgment is sure of, and when dangers come to despair of deliverance. Nay more, they are prompt in decision, while you are dilatory;

[4] they stir abroad, while you are perfect stay-at-homes; for they expect by absence from home to gain something, while you are afraid that, if you go out after something, you may imperil even what you have. If victorious over their enemies, they pursue their advantage to the utmost;

[5] if beaten, they fall back as little as possible.

[6] Moreover, they use their bodies in the service of their country as though they were the bodies of quite other men, but their minds as though they were wholly their own, so as to accomplish anything on her behalf.

[7] And whenever they have conceived a plan but fail to carry it to fulfilment, they think themselves robbed of a possession of their own; and whenever they go after a thing and obtain it, they consider that they have accomplished but little in comparison with what the future has in store for them ; but if it so happens that they try a thing and fail, they form new hopes instead and thus make up the loss.

[8] For with them alone is it the same thing to hope for and to attain when once they conceive a plan, for the reason that they swiftly undertake whatever they determine upon. In this way they toil, with hardships and dangers, all their life long; and least of all men they enjoy what they have because they are always seeking more, because they think their only holiday is to do their duty, and because they regard untroubled peace as a far greater calamity than laborious activity.

[9] Therefore if a man should sum up and say that they were born neither to have peace themselves nor to let other men have it, he would simply speak the truth.

[1] "At the same time we consider that we, if any, have a right to administer rebuke to our neighbours; especially as the differences [between you and them] are great; of which you do not seem to us to have any perception, nor to have ever yet considered with what kind of people you will have to struggle in the Athenians, and how very, nay, how entirely different from yourselves.

[2] They, for instance, are innovating, and quick to plan and accomplish by action what they have designed; while you are disposed to keep what you have, and form no new design, and by action not even to carry out what is necessary.

[3] Again, they are bold even beyond their power, and adventurous beyond their judgment, and sanguine in dangers; while your character is to undertake things beneath your power, and not to trust even the sure grounds of your judgement, and to think that you will never escape from your dangers. Moreover, they are unhesitating, in opposition to you who are dilatory;

[4] and fond of going from home, in opposition to you who are most fond of staying at home: for they think that by their absence they may acquire something; whereas you think that by attempting [more] you would do harm to what you have.

[5] When they conquer their enemies, they carry out their advantage to the utmost; and when conquered, they fall back the least.

[6] Further, they use their bodies as least belonging to them, for the good of their country; ¹ but their mind, as being most peculiarly their own, for achieving something on her account.

[7] And what they have planned but not carried out, they think that in this they lose something already their own; what they have attempted and gained, that in this they have achieved but little in comparison with what they mean to do. Then, if they fail in an attempt at any thing, by forming fresh hopes in its stead, they supply the deficiency: for they are the only people that ² succeed to the full extent of their hope in what they have planned, because they quickly undertake what they have resolved.

[8] And in this way they labour, with toils and dangers, all their life long; and least enjoy what they have, because they are always getting, and think a feast to be nothing else but to gain their ends, and inactive quiet to be no less a calamity than laborious occupation.

[9] So that if any one should sum up their character, by saying, that they are made neither to be quiet themselves, nor let the rest of the world be so, he would speak correctly.

[1] « Praeterea si qui alii, ipsi nobis digni esse videmur, qui proximis vilium exprobremus, praesertim quum de magni momenti rebus agatur, quarum nullum vos sensum nobis habere videmini, nec unquam considerasse, quales sint Athenienses, cum quibus certamen vobis est futurum, et quomodo vel omnibus in rebus sint vobis longe prestantiores.

[2] Nam illi quidem sunt rerum novarum studiosi, celeresque et excogitare et re ipsa exsequi id, quod exco-gitariut; vos vero praesentia conservare et nihil praeterea cognoscere, facto vero ne necessariis quidem satisfacere soletis..

[3] Praeterea illi quidem vel supra vires sunt audaces , et praeter rationem periculorum appetentes et in rebus asperis bonae spei; vestra vero ratio est, res vestris viribus inferiores gerere, et ne certis quidem et exploratis animi. consiliis confidere, et existimare, vos periculis nunquam liberatum iri.

[4] Quinetiam illi, si vobiscum conferantuf, sunt impigri, vos vero cunctatores; item illi peregrinationis cupidi, vos vero domi tenacissimi. Persuasum enim est illis quidem, absentia se aliquid sibi quaesituros; vobis vero, si peregrina obeatis, vel rerum praesentium jacturam vos facturos.

[5] Illi etiam, hostes si superant, longissime progrediuntur; si vincuntur, quam minimum animo consternantur.

[6] Praeterea vero corporibus quam alienissimi» pro republica utuntur, consiliis vero maxime propriis, ut aliquid pro ea agant.

[7] Et si cogitata non confecerint, rebus se suis privari putant; si quae vero armis quaesierint, perexigua senactos forte judicant prae illis, quae io posterum sperant. Quod si forte rei alicujus tentalae conatus eos fallat, nova spe defectura explent. Soli enim pariter et habent et sperant ea, quae animo conceperint, propterea quod celerrime perficere student, quae in animum induxerunt.

[8] Atque haec omnia cum laboribus et periculis omni tempore moliuntur, rebusque partis minimum fruuntur, quia pariendie semper intenti sunt, neque diem festum aliud esse putant, quam conficere, quae opus sunt, et calamitatem haud minorem otium iners quam laboriosum negotium.

[9] Quare sl quis paucis rem totam complexus eos dixerit ita natos esse, ut quiescere neque ipsi velint, neque alios mortales sinant, is verum dixerit.

« Crediamo inoltre aver quanto altri mai diritto di dolerci dei vicini , principalmente nell’urgenza di rilevanti affari , pei quali ci sembra che restiate insensibili, senza aver mai ponderato che gente sieno gli Ateniesi coi quali avrete a combattere , e in quanto , per non dire in tutto, a voi superiori. Novatori essi, sono destri a immaginare trovati e ad eseguirli : buoni voi a conservare il vostro , non mirate più oltre , nè sapete venire a capo delle cose anche le più necessarie. Di più sono essi ardimentosi al di sopra delle forze, arriseliievoli più di quel che s’erano prefissi , pieni di buona speranza nei più fieri disastri : all'opposto è proprio di voi operare al di sotto delle forze , non fidarvi neanche de’ meglio fondati consigli, e pensare non dovervi mai liberare da’ pericoli. Sono essi sollecitissimi dinanzi a voi temporeggianti ; eglino randagi, voi casalinghi : perchè coll’ allontanarsi dal patrio suolo credono trovar via a nuovi acquisti, voi col metter piè nelT altrui credete di rovinare anche il Vostro. Vincitori del nemico, ei si avanzano oltremodo , vinti si scoraggiano il meno possibile ; anzi per la patria non risparmiano punto i loro corpi come se a lei non apj partenesscro, ma usano dell9 animo come di cosa tutta di lei in ogni impresa che le sia utile : stimano perdita del proprio le imprese pensate e non compiute ; gli acquisti fatti colle invasioni, piccola cosa a comparazione di ciò che sperano conseguire. Fallisce a sorte una prova , vi sopperiscono con nuove speranze : soli essi riuniscono insieme speranza e possedimento delle cose immaginate , tanto è pronta l' opra di mano ai loro disegni. In tutto questo s’ affannano per l' intero corso della vita in mezzo alle fatiche ed ai pericoli : godono pochissimo di ciò che hanno , intenti sempre ad accrescerlo j credono festa non esser altro che far quel che occorre, e maggior disgrazia l' ozio inoperoso che la travagliosa occupazione. Insomma se tu gli dica nati per non aver riposo, nè lasciarlo altrui, diresti vero.