- Source
- Thucydides. Historiae, Vol 1-2. Jones, Henry Stuart, editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1910. (1942 printing).
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:3.43.1-3.43.5
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-26
Diodotus criticizes the Athenian public's deep suspicion which forces even good speakers to resort to deceit, and points out the unfair asymmetry of accountability between advisors and the assembly.
‘ὧν ἡμεῖς τἀναντία δρῶμεν, καὶ προσέτι ἤν τις καὶ ὑποπτεύηται κέρδους μὲν ἕνεκα τὰ βέλτιστα δὲ ὅμως λέγειν, φθονήσαντες τῆς οὐ βεβαίου δοκήσεως1 τῶν κερδῶν τὴν φανερὰν ὠφελίαν τῆς πόλεως ἀφαιρούμεθα.
’But we do the exact opposite; and furthermore, if anyone is even suspected of speaking what is best, though for the sake of gain, we, grudging him the uncertain suspicion of gain, deprive the city of its manifest benefit.
καθέστηκε δὲ τἀγαθὰ ἀπὸ τοῦ εὐθέος λεγόμενα μηδὲν ἀνυποπτότερα εἶναι τῶν κακῶν, ὥστε δεῖν ὁμοίως τόν τε τὰ δεινότατα βουλόμενον πεῖσαι ἀπάτῃ προσάγεσθαι τὸ πλῆθος καὶ τὸν τὰ ἀμείνω λέγοντα ψευσάμενον πιστὸν γενέσθαι.
And it has become established that good counsels, when spoken frankly, are no less suspected than bad ones, so that it is equally necessary for the one who wishes to persuade you to the most terrible things to win over the multitude by deceit, and for the one who speaks what is better to become believed by lying.
μόνην τε πόλιν2 διὰ τὰς περινοίας εὖ ποιῆσαι ἐκ τοῦ προφανοῦς μὴ ἐξαπατήσαντα ἀδύνατον· ὁ γὰρ διδοὺς φανερῶς τι ἀγαθὸν ἀνθυποπτεύεται ἀφανῶς πῃ πλέον ἕξειν.
And owing to your over-subtlety, this is the only city which it is impossible to benefit openly without deceiving her; for he who openly offers some good is suspected of going to gain some private advantage in secret.
χρὴ δὲ πρὸς τὰ μέγιστα καὶ ἐν τῷ τοιῷδε ἀξιοῦν τι ἡμᾶς περαιτέρω προνοοῦντας λέγειν3 ὑμῶν τῶν δι’ ὀλίγου σκοπούντων, ἄλλως τε καὶ ὑπεύθυνον τὴν παραίνεσιν ἔχοντας πρὸς ἀνεύθυνον τὴν ὑμετέραν ἀκρόασιν.
But in the face of the greatest matters, and in such a situation, we must deem it proper that we should speak with somewhat further foresight than you who look only to the moment, especially since we have a counsel that is subject to accountability, whereas your listening is free from accountability.
εἰ γὰρ ὅ τε πείσας καὶ ὁ ἐπισπόμενος ὁμοίως ἐβλάπτοντο, σωφρονέστερον ἂν ἐκρίνετε· νῦν δὲ πρὸς ὀργὴν ἥντινα τύχητε4 ἔστιν ὅτε σφαλέντες τὴν τοῦ πείσαντος μίαν γνώμην ζημιοῦτε καὶ οὐ τὰς ὑμετέρας αὐτῶν, εἰ πολλαὶ οὖσαι ξυνεξήμαρτον.
For if both the persuader and the follower were damaged alike, you would judge more soberly; but as it is, whenever you meet with failure, you yield to whatever anger you happen to feel, and punish the single opinion of the one who persuaded you, and not your own opinions, even though they, being many, shared in the mistake.’
- 3.43.1φθονήσαντες τῆς οὐ βεβαίου δοκήσεως
The verb φθονέω takes the genitive of cause (τῆς οὐ βεβαίου δοκήσεως), meaning to feel envy or grudge on account of the uncertain suspicion of gain.
- 3.43.3μόνην τε πόλιν
The phrase μόνην πόλιν (the city alone) emphasizes the unique and pathological character of Athens compared to other states or private situations, where honest advice cannot be accepted without suspicion.
- 3.43.4ἀξιοῦν τι ἡμᾶς περαιτέρω προνοοῦντας λέγειν
This structure is governed by the impersonal verb χρή, introducing the infinitive ἀξιοῦν (to deem proper). Within this, ἡμᾶς is the subject accusative of the infinitive λέγειν, with which the participle προνοοῦντας agrees. ὑμῶν is the genitive of comparison governed by the comparative adverb περαιτέρω (further).
- 3.43.5πρὸς ὀργὴν ἥντινα τύχητε
The verb τυγχάνω is used in the subjunctive without an expressed participle, where a participle like 'having' or 'being angry' is omitted. This idiomatic construction means 'in accordance with whatever anger you happen to feel at the moment,' emphasizing the impulsive nature of their reaction.