The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [236]
18. ‘My opponents’ actor is better, but my play is superior.’
19. The spokesman who employs speech as his only instrument, moulding and adapting some things,
20. And softening and smoothing off those which are hindrances to his work,
21. Such as would be knots in wood or flaws in iron, is an ornament to the state.
22. For this reason the government of Pericles, though in name a democracy, was in fact the rule of the foremost man because of his power of oratory.
23. For Cimon also was a good man, as were Ephialtes and Thucydides,
24. But when the last named was asked by Archidamus, king of the Spartans, whether he or Pericles was the better wrestler, he replied,
25. ‘Nobody can tell; for whenever I throw him in wrestling, he says he was not thrown and wins by persuading the onlookers.’
26. And this brought not only reputation to Pericles but safety to the state;
27. For while it was swayed by him it preserved its existing prosperity and refrained from foreign entanglements.
28. But Nicias, whose policy was the same, but who lacked powers of persuasion, could not restrain or master the people,
29. But against his will went off to Sicily at the prompting of their intemperance, and together with them suffered disaster.
Chapter 18
1. The wolf, they say, cannot be held by the ears; but one must lead a people or a state chiefly by the ears,
2. Not, as some do who have no practice in speaking, and seek uncultured and inartistic holds upon the people, by pulling them by the belly,
3. With banquets or gifts of money or arranging ballet dances or gladiatorial shows, by which they curry favour with the people.
4. For leadership of a people is leadership of those who are persuaded by speech;
5. But enticing the mob by such means is exactly like catching and herding irrational beasts.
6. The speech of the statesman, however, must not be theatrical,
7. As if he were making a speech for show and weaving a garland of words for their own sake and not for the sake of serious matter;
8. On the other hand it must not, as Pytheas said of the speech of Demosthenes, smell of the lamp and elaborate literary labour,
9. With sharp arguments and with periods precisely measured by rule and compass.
10. No, just as musicians demand that the touch upon the strings exhibit feeling, not mere technique,
11. So the speech of the statesman, counsellor and ruler must not exhibit shrewdness or subtlety,
12. And it must not be to his credit to speak fluently or artistically or distributively;
13. But his speech must be full of unaffected character, true high-mindedness, a father’s frankness, foresight, and thoughtful concern for others.
14. His speech must also have, in a good cause, a charm that pleases and a winning persuasiveness;
15. In addition to nobility of purpose it must possess grace arising from appropriate and persuasive thoughts.
16. And political oratory, much more than that used in a court of law, admits maxims, historical examples and metaphors,
17. By means of which those who employ them sparingly and at the proper moment move their audiences exceedingly;
18. As did Phocion when he said, with reference to the victory of Leosthenes,
19. That the furlong race of the war was good, but he was fearful about the long-distance race.
20. And in general, sobriety and clarity of style are most fitting for political speech;
21. Rhetorical efforts and grand periods are especially inappropriate in times of danger or war,
22. For as has been said, ‘None should talk foolishly when near the steel.’
23. However, derision and ridicule are sometimes proper parts of the statesman’s speech if employed, not as insults or buffoonery, but for needful reproof and disparagement.
24. That sort of thing is most laudable in rejoinders and replies; but when employed of set purpose and without provocation, it carries a suspicion of malice.
25. But for one who employs wit in self-defence the occasion makes it pardonable and at the same time pleasing,
26. As when Demosthenes,