William Jackson Brodribb

Name: Demosthenes — GREECE IN THE FOURTH CENTURY B.C.
Author: William Jackson Brodribb

Demosthenes — GREECE IN THE FOURTH CENTURY B.C. (1877)

Summary

“Demosthenes — GREECE IN THE FOURTH CENTURY B.C.”, published in 1877, is a work by William Jackson Brodribb. It explores elements such as Athens, Sparta and Macedon.

Quotes from Demosthenes — GREECE IN THE FOURTH CENTURY B.C. (William Jackson Brodribb)

William Jackson Brodribb, Demosthenes — GREECE IN THE FOURTH CENTURY B.C. (1877)

“ Though Thebes soon fell back from the pre-eminence to which the genius of Epameinondas had lifted her, Sparta was never able to regain her ancient prestige.
Athens, from some cause or other, had much more elasticity and power of recovery than Sparta. There was a life and sprightliness about her citizens which made them quickly forget calamities and rise to new hopes and aspirations. So it was with them after Leuctra. Athens at once was fired with the ambition of winning back her old empire; and she actually succeeded in again becoming the head of a powerful confederacy. ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Jackson Brodribb, Demosthenes — GREECE IN THE FOURTH CENTURY B.C. (1877)

“ There was a garrison for a time in the Cadmea, or the citadel of Thebes. It was forced into the city, and subsequently maintained there with a flagrant disregard of justice and equity. The Spartan king Agesilaus coolly asserted that if it was for Sparta's interest it was right. Altogether, the Spartan rule was much more galling than the Athenian had been. Sparta, indeed, always seems to have been a more selfish state than Athens. It is true that Athens in her greatness had been spoken of as "a despot city;" but there was at the same time a feeling that she worthily represented Greece. ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Jackson Brodribb, Demosthenes — GREECE IN THE FOURTH CENTURY B.C. (1877)

“ The idea which lay at the root of Greek strength and greatness was, that Greece should be made up of federations, with the leading cities at the head of them. In the face of a common foe these federations, it was hoped and believed, would be attracted to each other, and would feel that they had a common cause. This was Panhellenism. Sparta, by her methods of rule, weakened this idea, and thereby undermined the foundations of the Greek world. The feebleness and disunion of Greece in the fourth century B.C., which were so favourable to Macedon, were, in part at least, due to Sparta's influence. ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Jackson Brodribb, Demosthenes — GREECE IN THE FOURTH CENTURY B.C. (1877)

“ The disgust which Sparta had provoked throughout the Greek world was no doubt a great help to Athens. Once more her fleet sailed supreme over the Ægean. As a matter of course, the chief islands joined her alliance. A synod of deputies from her allies and dependents obeyed her summons, and contributions were voted for the common cause. She had able men—such as Timotheus, Iphicrates, and Chabrias—to command her forces. At the time of Philip's accession to the throne of Macedon in 359 B.C., Athens was the first state in Greece. ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Jackson Brodribb, Demosthenes — GREECE IN THE FOURTH CENTURY B.C. (1877)

“ Athens thus entered on a great contest under unfavourable conditions. She was still, from her extensive trade, the richest city in Greece, and she had the means of sending out formidable fleets. But her citizens liked ease and comfort, and preferred their cheerful city life to foreign service. Her dominions, too, were rather vulnerable, not being guarded by any regular troops. If they were attacked, they had to be defended by mercenaries, commanded by the sort of general who has been described. ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Jackson Brodribb, Demosthenes — GREECE IN THE FOURTH CENTURY B.C. (1877)

“ Athens, he contends, might recover from the losses and disasters of the Social War, if she would only eschew for the future a meddling and aggressive policy, be prepared for self-defence, and devote herself to commerce and to the arts of peace. ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Jackson Brodribb, Demosthenes — GREECE IN THE FOURTH CENTURY B.C. (1877)

“ Consequently, the only method of meeting the costs of war was the exaction of a property tax from the rich. War under these circumstances could not but involve very serious and sorely-felt sacrifices. ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Jackson Brodribb, Demosthenes — GREECE IN THE FOURTH CENTURY B.C. (1877)

“ He complains that his countrymen "were so infatuated that while they themselves wanted the means of subsistence they were undertaking to maintain mercenaries, and were maltreating their allies and levying tribute from them, in order that they might provide pay for the common enemies of mankind." ”

William Jackson Brodribb

Summary

Quotes from Demosthenes — GREECE IN THE FOURTH CENTURY B.C. (William Jackson Brodribb)

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