Quotes About Demosthenes

#1. Do you remember that in classical times when Cicero had finished speaking, the people said, "How well he spoke" but when Demosthenes had finished speaking, they said, "Let us march.

Demosthenes

#2. When Demosthenes was asked what was the first part of Oratory, he answered, "Action," and which was the second, he replied, "action," and which was the third, he still answered "Action.

Plutarch

#3. Demosthenes told Phocion, "The Athenians will kill you some day when they once are in a rage." "And you," said he, "if they are once in their senses.

Plutarch

#4. Pythias once, scoffing at Demosthenes, said that his arguments smelt of the lamp.

Plutarch

#5. The minds of youth are perpetually led to the history of Greece and Rime or to Great Britain; Boys are constantly repeating the declamations of Demosthenes and Cicero, or debates upon some political question in the British Parliament.

Noah Webster

#6. When Demosthenes was asked what were the three most important aspects of oratory, he answered, 'Action, Action, Action.'

Plutarch

#7. The cult of the individual is killing us. I think Twitter signals the death of western civilisation, but people have been saying that since Demosthenes.

Kate Atkinson

#8. If only I was as eloquent as Demosthenes, I would have to do no more than repeat a single word three times.

Johann Georg Hamann

#9. The Life of Johnson is assuredly a great, a very great work. Homer is not more decidedly the first of heroic poets, Shakspeare is not more decidedly the first of dramatists, Demosthenes is not more decidedly the first of orators, than Boswell is the first of biographers. He has no second. ==========

Anonymous

#10. Plato is never sullen, Cervantes is never petulant, Demosthenes never comes unseasonably, Dante never stays too long.

Nathaniel Parker

#11. Quoting Demosthenes, 'For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true.' I would rather make money playing a piano in a whorehouse than arguing that no cost is incurred when employees are paid in stock options instead of cash. I am not kidding.

Charlie Munger

#12. The greatest and truest models for all oratorsis Demosthenes. One who has not studied deeply and constantly all the great speeches of the great Athenian, is not prepared to speak in public. Only as the constant companion of Demosthenes, Burke, Fox, Canning and Webster, can we hope to become orators.

Woodrow Wilson

#13. Demosthenes overcame and rendered more distinct his inarticulate and stammering pronunciation by speaking with pebbles in his mouth.

Plutarch

#14. Demosthenes, when taunted by Pytheas that all his arguments "smelled of the lamp," replied, "Yes, but your lamp and mine, my friend, do not witness the same labours.

Plutarch

#15. The man who is in the highest state of prosperity, and who thinks his fortune is most secure, knows not if it will remain unchanged till the evening.

Demosthenes

#16. There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots - suspicion.

Demosthenes

#17. Small opportunities often presage great enterprises.

Demosthenes

#18. Everything great is not always good, but all good things, are great.

Demosthenes

#19. The fact speak for themselves.

Demosthenes

#20. Every dictator is an enemy of freedom, an opponent of law.

Demosthenes

#21. It is the natural disposition of all men to listen with pleasure to abuse and slander of their neighbour, and to hear with impatience those who utter praises of themselves.

Demosthenes

#22. We need money, for sure, Athenians, and without money nothing can be done that ought to be done.

Demosthenes

#23. I'll betide thee, say I, and may the Gods, or at least the Athenians, confound thee for a vile citizen and a vile third-rate actor! Read the evidence.

Demosthenes

#24. I decline to buy repentance at the cost often thousand drachmas.

Demosthenes

#25. All speech is vain and empty unless it be accompanied by action.

Demosthenes

#26. What a man wishes he generally believes to be true

Demosthenes

#27. We believe whatever we want to believe.

Demosthenes

#28. The more able a man is, if he make ill use of his abilities, the more dangerous will he be to the commonwealth.

Demosthenes

#29. The man who has received a benefit ought always to remember it, but he who has granted it ought to forget the fact at once.

Demosthenes

#30. You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man's actions are, such must be his spirit.

Demosthenes

#31. The end of wisdom is consultation and deliberation.

Demosthenes

#32. There is a great deal of wishful thinking in such cases it is the easiest thing of all to deceive ones self.

Demosthenes

#33. As a vessel is known by its sound whether it be cracked or not, so men are proved by their speeches whether they be wise or foolish.

Demosthenes

#34. Virtue begins with understanding and is fulfilled by courage.

Demosthenes

#35. Whatever shall be to the advantage of all, may that prevail!

Demosthenes

#36. A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true.

Demosthenes

#37. The most noble title any child can have is Third.

Demosthenes

#38. No man who is not willing to help himself has any right to apply to his friends, or to the gods.

Demosthenes

#39. The sower of the seed is assuredly the author of the whole harvest of mischief.

Demosthenes

#40. Great and unexpected successes are often the cause of foolish rushing into acts of extravagance.

Demosthenes

#41. Clouds cannot cover secret places, nor denials conceal truth.

Demosthenes

#42. What we wish, that we readily believe.

Demosthenes

#43. Success has a great tendency to conceal and throw a veil over the evil deeds of men.

Demosthenes

#44. It is impossible for men engaged in low and groveling pursuits to have noble and generous sentiments. A man's thought must always follow his employment.

Demosthenes

#45. One believes in what one wants to believe in..

Demosthenes

#46. By persistent labor man may attain to all excellence.

Demosthenes

#47. The man who flies shall fight again.
[Lat., Qui fugiebat, rusus praeliabitur.]

Demosthenes

#48. Every advantage in the past is judged in the light of the final issue.

Demosthenes

#49. Close alliances with despots are never safe for free states.

Demosthenes

#50. Beware lest in your anxiety to avoid war you obtain a master.

Demosthenes

#51. Nothing is easier than self-deceit.

Demosthenes

#52. Nothing is more easy than to deceive one's self, as our affections are subtle persuaders.

Demosthenes

#53. Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.

Demosthenes

#54. What we have in us of the image of God is the love of truth and justice.

Demosthenes

#55. The best protection for the people is not necessarily to believe everything people tell them.

Demosthenes

#56. What a man wishes, he will believe.

Demosthenes

#57. To remind a man of the good turns you have done him is very much like a reproach.

Demosthenes

#58. Good fortune is the greatest of blessings, but good counsel comes next, and the lack of it destroys the other also.

Demosthenes

#59. Nothing is easier than self-deceit.
For what every man wishes,
that he also believes to be true.

Demosthenes

#60. Excessive dealings with tyrants are not good for the security of free states.

Demosthenes

#61. The readiest and surest way to get rid of censure, is to correct ourselves.

Demosthenes

#62. He who confers a favor should at once forget it, if he is not to show a sordid ungenerous spirit. To remind a man of a kindness conferred and to talk of it, is little different from reproach.

Demosthenes