[Perseus Project]



Andocides On his Return 2 [andoc. 2.2]



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Greek text with morphological links

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[1] Had some other matter been at issue, gentlemen, I should have felt no

surprise at finding a difference of opinion among the speakers who

addressed you. But when the question is whether or not I, or anyone less

worthy who so desires, should do this state a service, nothing seems to me

more extraordinary than that contrary views should be held, instead of

there being complete unanimity; for if the state is common to all who enjoy

civic rights, the benefits which the state receives are likewise, I

presume, common benefits.



[2] Such disagreement is a matter for alarm and astonishment; yet, as you

can see, it has already been expressed by some, and will shortly be

expressed by others. Indeed, I am completely at a loss to understand why

the question of your receiving a benefit from me should cause such

excitement among our friends here. They must either be the most stupid of

mankind or the worst of public enemies. If they hold that when the state is

prospering they are better off individually, they are showing extreme

stupidity in advocating today a policy which directly conflicts with their

own interests;

[3] while if they do not identify their interests as individuals with yours

as a community, they can only be public enemies. Indeed when I secretly

communicated to the Council a proposal which would be of the very greatest

service to this city if carried into effect, and proved as much clearly and

conclusively to the members present, such of my present critics as were

among my audience found it as impossible as anyone else to show by argument

that any of my statements was incorrect; yet they are now trying to impugn

those statements.



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