Pericles Funeral Oration from the Peloponnesian War

We are a democracy. Our government is unique. It does not borrow from others, it is itself unique. It is government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It is a democracy, power of the people, in fact as well as in name. It is a government in which every citizen is equal before the law. But it goes beyond that – it believes in equality of opportunity. That every citizen should have a chance to go as far as his abilities will carry him. We don’t think it a shame to be poor. The only thing we think is a shame is trying not to get rich. We obey the laws, ours is a law-abiding society. We obey the laws that are written, and the laws that have been handed down. We are also a tolerant society. We think that you should be free to live as you choose. And if we don’t like your lifestyle, not only do we not charge you, remove you from the citizenship list the way the way that would happen at Sparta, instead, we don’t even give you sour looks that might just hurt your feelings.

You are free to live as you choose here, and what is more you have the great advantages of our society. Because ours is a society open to the world. The goods of the whole world pour in here. People come from all over the world to Athens, because it is a superior place to make their lives. You have great advantages; festivals, the means to earn money, and things worth spending it upon. And, you know, we love beautiful things. We are lovers of wisdom and beauty. We like to surround ourselves with great beautiful works of art. We do not thin that it is wrong to develop your mind. And yet with beauty, and a love of what is fine and luxurious, we are patriotic. The Spartans must instill and drill patriotism in their young by an unrelenting military education. They must cut themselves off from all luxury and commerce. We don’t believe that. We believe that the whole individual should be developed.

And yet, I’m going to tell you something, when we go into battle we have time and time again proven that we are as brave as they are. Did we not fight alone at Marathon? I say to you, that our way of life influences every aspect of our politics. We make decisions based on reason, after a full and elaborate discussion. We do not think it necessary to cut off discussion and debate. Let us see every possible reason discussed. And then we make our decision, based on prudence. In our foreign policy, we do not take favors from others: We give favors. We are kind and generous, and we believe in our duty to help the weak, and to stand up for what is right. Our foreign policy is one based on morality, and our desire that our way of life spread through the whole world.

I say this to you: The ordinary Athenian citizen is absolute master of himself, and does it with a unique degree of beauty and excellence. In fact, I’m going to tell you something: We are a model to the world. The whole world should look at us and pattern itself upon us. Later ages will remember that. We will not need a Homer to sing our praises. The great buildings we have erected, the great achievements of our democracy, will cause every highway and sea to bear testimony to our grandeur. The world will stand in awe of what we have done.[1]

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[1] Thucydides. Pericles' Funeral Oration from the Peloponnesian War (Book 2.34-46) translation by J. Rufus Fears, Ph.D., David Ross Boyd Professor of Classics, and G. T. and Libby Blankenship Chair in the History of Liberty at the University of Oklahoma.