Pericles
Athenian statesman
Sayings by Pericles
For the greatest glory is to be spoken of for one's virtues, and to be praised by one's fellow citizens.
We cultivate refinement without extravagance and knowledge without effeminacy.
Our government is not copied from those of our neighbors: we are an example to them rather than they to us.
For we are a democracy, and our laws are equal to all alike in their private disputes, but in public, we are ruled by the will of the majority.
For the love of honor is the only thing that does not grow old, and in old age it is not wealth, but honor, that gives us joy, and in old age it is not wealth, but honor, that gives us joy.
We do not make our friends by receiving favors, but by conferring them, and we do not make our enemies by receiving injuries, but by inflicting them.
For we are a city that is open to the world, and we never expel a foreigner from our midst, nor do we prevent anyone from learning or seeing anything, provided that by so doing he does not harm the state, for we are not afraid of strangers, but we are afraid of our own mistakes, and we are not afraid of our enemies, but we are afraid of our own mistakes.
For the greatest glory is to be spoken of for one's virtues, and to be praised by one's fellow citizens, and to be honored by one's fellow citizens, and to be honored by one's fellow citizens.