Our political system is called a democracy because the rule is not in the hands of a few but under the control of the majority.
In private disputes everyone stands equal before the law, while in questions of public preferment it is merit rather than class
membership that is esteemed. Poverty is no bar to public service; whoever has some good to perform for the 'polis' is
recognized.
Our private lives are conducted with the same openess as our public business; and every man is free to enjoy himself in the
manner he wishes without provoking the anger of his neighbor or receiving those offensive glances which, though they do
no real harm, cause grief. Private freedom is not public license; we reverence and obey the law. We obey both the authorities
and the authority of the laws, especially those laws designed to protect the wronged and the unwritten laws which possess
the sanction of public shame.
When our work is over we recreate our spirits in the public contests and religious festivals which fill the 'polis' year. There are
private delights as well, pursued with moderation and good taste, whose pleasure draw away our daily cares. Because of
the greatness of our 'polis' the goods of the world come home to us, and we enjoy them naturally as our own.
Our love of beautiful is unmarred by extravagance, and our pursuit of the things of the mind has not led us into softness.
We use our wealth for practical ends rather than as a subject for boasting. We do not consider a man's poverty a shameful
thing; the discrace is in doing nothing to avoid it. We have an equal concern for our home and our 'polis', and even those
of us who are chiefly engaged in business have a profound knowledge of politics. We alone have no respect for a man
disinterested in political life. We are the judges of our own actions and give careful thought to our affairs. For us discussion
is no bar to action; what is harmful is to act before submitting a policy to discussion. We are unusual in that we are capable
of taking risks even after we have weighed the consequences, while other men are brave as long as they are ignorant
but draw back upon reflection.
Taken all in all, this 'polis' is the school of Hellas. Each citizen is master of his own person in all circumstances and is so
with exceeding grace and versatility.
From the funeral oration delivered by Pericles
at Athens in B.C. 429.
Reported by the historian Thucydides.
This passage was taken from The Harvest of Hellenism written by F.E. Peters