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History of the Peloponnesian War

§5.90.1

Preserving the Common Good as Athenian Self-Interest

The Melians, accepting the framework of discussing interest rather than justice, argue that it is in the Athenians' own interest not to destroy the common good, since any powerful state might one day fall and need fair treatment.

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§5.90.1

ΜΗΛ. ἧι1 μὲν δὴ νομίζομέν γε, χρήσιμον (ἀνάγκη γάρ, ἐπειδὴ ὑμεῖς οὕτω παρὰ τὸ δίκαιον τὸ ξυμφέρον λέγειν ὑπέθεσθε) μὴ καταλύειν2 ὑμᾶς τὸ κοινὸν ἀγαθόν, ἀλλὰ τῷ αἰεὶ ἐν κινδύνῳ γιγνομένῳ3 εἶναι τὰ εἰκότα καὶ δίκαια, καί τι καὶ ἐντὸς τοῦ ἀκριβοῦς4 πείσαντά τινα ὠφεληθῆναι. καὶ πρὸς ὑμῶν οὐχ ἧσσον τοῦτο, ὅσῳ καὶ ἐπὶ μεγίστῃ τιμωρίᾳ σφαλέντες ἂν5 τοῖς ἄλλοις παράδειγμα γένοισθε.

​MELIANS ‘As we see it, then, it is useful—for we are forced to speak of utility since you have thus laid down that we should discuss interest rather than justice—that you should not destroy the common good, but that for anyone who is from time to time in danger, what is reasonable and just should be available, and that he should be able to benefit if he can win belief even by falling short of strict proof. And this is no less to your own interest, inasmuch as, if you should fall, you would become an example to others by receiving the greatest vengeance.’

Syntax notes5 items
  1. 5.90.1ἧι

    A relative adverb meaning 'in so far as' or 'in the way that', limiting the scope of the main adjective 'χρήσιμον'.

  2. 5.90.1μὴ καταλύειν

    An infinitive functioning as the subject of the impersonal 'χρήσιμον [ἐστί]'. Its subject accusative is 'ὑμᾶς', meaning 'that you should not destroy (the common good)'.

  3. 5.90.1τῷ αἰεὶ ἐν κινδύνῳ γιγνομένῳ

    A substantive use of the present participle meaning 'the person who is from time to time in danger'. It is in the dative case, functioning as a dative of possessor/interest with the infinitive 'εἶναι'.

  4. 5.90.1ἐντὸς τοῦ ἀκριβοῦς

    Literally 'within strictness' (strict proof or accuracy), but in this context it implies 'even if falling short of absolute strictness' or 'even within the bounds of less than exact proof'.

  5. 5.90.1σφαλέντες ἂν

    The aorist passive participle 'σφαλέντες' with the particle 'ἄν' forms a potential condition (equivalent to 'εἰ σφαλείητε') referencing a hypothetical future event, coordinating with the main potential optative 'γένοισθε ἂν'.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (2, latest 2026-09-22)
  • 2026-09-22 AI review — source 2
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:5.90.1