Pericles' Funeral Oration from the Peloponnesian War (Book 2.34-46)
Thucydides (c.460/455-c.399 BCE)
Source: Fordham University Ancient History Sourcebook
AsreferredtoinBorisJohnson,MayorofLondon’sLegatumInstitutelectureon4September2014,‘Athenian
Civilisations:TheGlorythatEndures’
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"Mostofmypredecessorsinthisplacehavecommendedhimwhomadethisspeechpartofthelaw,
tellingusthatitiswellthatitshouldbedeliveredattheburialofthosewhofallinbattle.Formyself,I
shouldhavethoughtthattheworthwhichhaddisplayeditselfindeedswouldbesufficiently
rewardedbyhonoursalsoshownbydeeds;suchasyounowseeinthisfuneralpreparedatthe
people'scost.AndIcouldhavewishedthatthereputationsofmanybravemenwerenottobe
imperilledinthemouthofasingleindividual,tostandorfallaccordingashespokewellorill.Foritis
hardtospeakproperlyuponasubjectwhereitisevendifficulttoconvinceyourhearersthatyouare
speakingthetruth.Ontheonehand,thefriendwhoisfamiliarwitheveryfactofthestorymaythink
thatsomepointhasnotbeensetforthwiththatfullnesswhichhewishesandknowsittodeserve;on
theother,hewhoisastrangertothemattermaybeledbyenvytosuspectexaggerationifhehears
anythingabovehisownnature.Formencanenduretohearotherspraisedonlysolongastheycan
severallypersuadethemselvesoftheirownabilitytoequaltheactionsrecounted:whenthispointis
passed,envycomesinandwithitincredulity.However,sinceourancestorshavestampedthis
customwiththeirapproval,itbecomesmydutytoobeythelawandtotrytosatisfyyourseveral
wishesandopinionsasbestImay.
"Ishallbeginwithourancestors:itisbothjustandproperthattheyshouldhavethehonourofthe
firstmentiononanoccasionlikethepresent.Theydweltinthecountrywithoutbreakinthe
successionfromgenerationtogeneration,andhandeditdownfreetothepresenttimebytheir
valour.Andifourmoreremoteancestorsdeservepraise,muchmoredoourownfathers,whoadded
totheirinheritancetheempirewhichwenowpossess,andsparednopainstobeabletoleavetheir
acquisitionstousofthepresentgeneration.Lastly,therearefewpartsofourdominionsthathave
notbeenaugmentedbythoseofushere,whoarestillmoreorlessinthevigouroflife;whilethe
mothercountryhasbeenfurnishedbyuswitheverythingthatcanenablehertodependonherown
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resourceswhetherforwarorforpeace.Thatpartofourhistorywhichtellsofthemilitary
achievementswhichgaveusourseveralpossessions,orofthereadyvalourwithwhicheitherweor
ourfathersstemmedthetideofHellenicorforeignaggression,isathemetoofamiliartomyhearers
formetodilateon,andIshallthereforepassitby.Butwhatwastheroadbywhichwereachedour
position,whattheformofgovernmentunderwhichourgreatnessgrew,whatthenationalhabitsout
ofwhichitsprang;thesearequestionswhichImaytrytosolvebeforeIproceedtomypanegyric
uponthesemen;sinceIthinkthistobeasubjectuponwhichonthepresentoccasionaspeakermay
properlydwell,andtowhichthewholeassemblage,whethercitizensorforeigners,maylistenwith
advantage.
"Ourconstitutiondoesnotcopythelawsofneighbouringstates;weareratherapatterntoothers
thanimitatorsourselves.Itsadministrationfavoursthemanyinsteadofthefew;thisiswhyitis
calledademocracy.Ifwelooktothelaws,theyaffordequaljusticetoallintheirprivatedifferences;
ifnosocialstanding,advancementinpubliclifefallstoreputationforcapacity,classconsiderations
notbeingallowedtointerferewithmerit;noragaindoespovertybartheway,ifamanisableto
servethestate,heisnothinderedbytheobscurityofhiscondition.Thefreedomwhichweenjoyin
ourgovernmentextendsalsotoourordinarylife.There,farfromexercisingajealoussurveillance
overeachother,wedonotfeelcalledupontobeangrywithourneighbourfordoingwhathelikes,or
eventoindulgeinthoseinjuriouslookswhichcannotfailtobeoffensive,althoughtheyinflictno
positivepenalty.Butallthiseaseinourprivaterelationsdoesnotmakeuslawlessascitizens.
Againstthisfearisourchiefsafeguard,teachingustoobeythemagistratesandthelaws,particularly
suchasregardtheprotectionoftheinjured,whethertheyareactuallyonthestatutebook,orbelong
tothatcodewhich,althoughunwritten,yetcannotbebrokenwithoutacknowledgeddisgrace.
"Further,weprovideplentyofmeansforthemindtorefreshitselffrombusiness.Wecelebrate
gamesandsacrificesalltheyearround,andtheeleganceofourprivateestablishmentsformsadaily
sourceofpleasureandhelpstobanishthespleen;whilethemagnitudeofourcitydrawstheproduce
oftheworldintoourharbour,sothattotheAthenianthefruitsofothercountriesareasfamiliara
luxuryasthoseofhisown.
"Ifweturntoourmilitarypolicy,therealsowedifferfromourantagonists.Wethrowopenourcity
totheworld,andneverbyalienactsexcludeforeignersfromanyopportunityoflearningor
observing,althoughtheeyesofanenemymayoccasionallyprofitbyourliberality;trustinglessin
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systemandpolicythantothenativespiritofourcitizens;whileineducation,whereourrivalsfrom
theirverycradlesbyapainfuldisciplineseekaftermanliness,atAthensweliveexactlyasweplease,
andyetarejustasreadytoencountereverylegitimatedanger.Inproofofthisitmaybenoticedthat
theLacedaemoniansdonotinvadeourcountryalone,butbringwiththemalltheirconfederates;
whileweAtheniansadvanceunsupportedintotheterritoryofaneighbour,andfightingupona
foreignsoilusuallyvanquishwitheasemenwhoaredefendingtheirhomes.Ourunitedforcewas
neveryetencounteredbyanyenemy,becausewehaveatoncetoattendtoourmarineandto
dispatchourcitizensbylanduponahundreddifferentservices;sothat,wherevertheyengagewith
somesuchfractionofourstrength,asuccessagainstadetachmentismagnifiedintoavictoryover
thenation,andadefeatintoareversesufferedatthehandsofourentirepeople.Andyetifwith
habitsnotoflabourbutofease,andcouragenotofartbutofnature,wearestillwillingtoencounter
danger,wehavethedoubleadvantageofescapingtheexperienceofhardshipsinanticipationandof
facingtheminthehourofneedasfearlesslyasthosewhoareneverfreefromthem.
"Norarethesetheonlypointsinwhichourcityisworthyofadmiration.Wecultivaterefinement
withoutextravaganceandknowledgewithouteffeminacy;wealthweemploymoreforusethanfor
show,andplacetherealdisgraceofpovertynotinowningtothefactbutindecliningthestruggle
againstit.Ourpublicmenhave,besidespolitics,theirprivateaffairstoattendto,andourordinary
citizens,thoughoccupiedwiththepursuitsofindustry,arestillfairjudgesofpublicmatters;for,
unlikeanyothernation,regardinghimwhotakesnopartinthesedutiesnotasunambitiousbutas
useless,weAtheniansareabletojudgeatalleventsifwecannotoriginate,and,insteadoflookingon
discussionasastumbling‐blockinthewayofaction,wethinkitanindispensablepreliminarytoany
wiseactionatall.Again,inourenterpriseswepresentthesingularspectacleofdaringand
deliberation,eachcarriedtoitshighestpoint,andbothunitedinthesamepersons;althoughusually
decisionisthefruitofignorance,hesitationofreflection.Butthepalmofcouragewillsurelybe
adjudgedmostjustlytothose,whobestknowthedifferencebetweenhardshipandpleasureandyet
arenevertemptedtoshrinkfromdanger.Ingenerosityweareequallysingular,acquiringourfriends
byconferring,notbyreceiving,favours.Yet,ofcourse,thedoerofthefavouristhefirmerfriendof
thetwo,inorderbycontinuedkindnesstokeeptherecipientinhisdebt;whilethedebtorfeelsless
keenlyfromtheveryconsciousnessthatthereturnhemakeswillbeapayment,notafreegift.Andit
isonlytheAthenians,who,fearlessofconsequences,confertheirbenefitsnotfromcalculationsof
expediency,butintheconfidenceofliberality.
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"Inshort,IsaythatasacitywearetheschoolofHellas,whileIdoubtiftheworldcanproduceaman
who,wherehehasonlyhimselftodependupon,isequaltosomanyemergencies,andgracedbyso
happyaversatility,astheAthenian.Andthatthisisnomereboastthrownoutfortheoccasion,but
plainmatteroffact,thepowerofthestateacquiredbythesehabitsproves.ForAthensaloneofher
contemporariesisfoundwhentestedtobegreaterthanherreputation,andalonegivesnooccasion
toherassailantstoblushattheantagonistbywhomtheyhavebeenworsted,ortohersubjectsto
questionhertitlebymerittorule.Rather,theadmirationofthepresentandsucceedingageswillbe
ours,sincewehavenotleftourpowerwithoutwitness,buthaveshownitbymightyproofs;andfar
fromneedingaHomerforourpanegyrist,orotherofhiscraftwhoseversesmightcharmforthe
momentonlyfortheimpressionwhichtheygavetomeltatthetouchoffact,wehaveforcedevery
seaandlandtobethehighwayofourdaring,andeverywhere,whetherforevilorforgood,haveleft
imperishablemonumentsbehindus.SuchistheAthensforwhichthesemen,intheassertionoftheir
resolvenottoloseher,noblyfoughtanddied;andwellmayeveryoneoftheirsurvivorsbereadyto
sufferinhercause.
"IndeedifIhavedweltatsomelengthuponthecharacterofourcountry,ithasbeentoshowthatour
stakeinthestruggleisnotthesameastheirswhohavenosuchblessingstolose,andalsothatthe
panegyricofthemenoverwhomIamnowspeakingmightbebydefiniteproofsestablished.That
panegyricisnowinagreatmeasurecomplete;fortheAthensthatIhavecelebratedisonlywhatthe
heroismoftheseandtheirlikehavemadeher,menwhosefame,unlikethatofmostHellenes,willbe
foundtobeonlycommensuratewiththeirdeserts.Andifatestofworthbewanted,itistobefound
intheirclosingscene,andthisnotonlyincasesinwhichitsetthefinalsealupontheirmerit,butalso
inthoseinwhichitgavethefirstintimationoftheirhavingany.Forthereisjusticeintheclaimthat
steadfastnessinhiscountry'sbattlesshouldbeasacloaktocoveraman'sotherimperfections;since
thegoodactionhasblottedoutthebad,andhismeritasacitizenmorethanoutweighedhisdemerits
asanindividual.Butnoneoftheseallowedeitherwealthwithitsprospectoffutureenjoymentto
unnervehisspirit,orpovertywithitshopeofadayoffreedomandrichestotempthimtoshrink
fromdanger.No,holdingthatvengeanceupontheirenemieswasmoretobedesiredthanany
personalblessings,andreckoningthistobethemostgloriousofhazards,theyjoyfullydeterminedto
accepttherisk,tomakesureoftheirvengeance,andtolettheirwisheswait;andwhilecommittingto
hopetheuncertaintyoffinalsuccess,inthebusinessbeforethemtheythoughtfittoactboldlyand
trustinthemselves.Thuschoosingtodieresisting,ratherthantolivesubmitting,theyfledonlyfrom
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dishonour,butmetdangerfacetoface,andafteronebriefmoment,whileatthesummitoftheir
fortune,escaped,notfromtheirfear,butfromtheirglory.
"SodiedthesemenasbecameAthenians.You,theirsurvivors,mustdeterminetohaveasunfaltering
aresolutioninthefield,thoughyoumaypraythatitmayhaveahappierissue.Andnotcontented
withideasderivedonlyfromwordsoftheadvantageswhichareboundupwiththedefenceofyour
country,thoughthesewouldfurnishavaluabletexttoaspeakerevenbeforeanaudiencesoaliveto
themasthepresent,youmustyourselvesrealizethepowerofAthens,andfeedyoureyesuponher
fromdaytoday,tillloveofherfillsyourhearts;andthen,whenallhergreatnessshallbreakupon
you,youmustreflectthatitwasbycourage,senseofduty,andakeenfeelingofhonourinactionthat
menwereenabledtowinallthis,andthatnopersonalfailureinanenterprisecouldmakethem
consenttodeprivetheircountryoftheirvalour,buttheylaiditatherfeetasthemostglorious
contributionthattheycouldoffer.Forthisofferingoftheirlivesmadeincommonbythemallthey
eachofthemindividuallyreceivedthatrenownwhichnevergrowsold,andforasepulchre,notso
muchthatinwhichtheirboneshavebeendeposited,butthatnoblestofshrineswhereintheirglory
islaiduptobeeternallyremembereduponeveryoccasiononwhichdeedorstoryshallcallforits
commemoration.Forheroeshavethewholeearthfortheirtomb;andinlandsfarfromtheirown,
wherethecolumnwithitsepitaphdeclaresit,thereisenshrinedineverybreastarecordunwritten
withnotablettopreserveit,exceptthatoftheheart.Thesetakeasyourmodeland,judging
happinesstobethefruitoffreedomandfreedomofvalour,neverdeclinethedangersofwar.Foritis
notthemiserablethatwouldmostjustlybeunsparingoftheirlives;thesehavenothingtohopefor:it
israthertheytowhomcontinuedlifemaybringreversesasyetunknown,andtowhomafall,ifit
came,wouldbemosttremendousinitsconsequences.Andsurely,toamanofspirit,thedegradation
ofcowardicemustbeimmeasurablymoregrievousthantheunfeltdeathwhichstrikeshiminthe
midstofhisstrengthandpatriotism!
"Comfort,therefore,notcondolence,iswhatIhavetooffertotheparentsofthedeadwhomaybe
here.Numberlessarethechancestowhich,astheyknow,thelifeofmanissubject;butfortunate
indeedaretheywhodrawfortheirlotadeathsogloriousasthatwhichhascausedyourmourning,
andtowhomlifehasbeensoexactlymeasuredastoterminateinthehappinessinwhichithasbeen
passed.StillIknowthatthisisahardsaying,especiallywhenthoseareinquestionofwhomyouwill
constantlyberemindedbyseeinginthehomesofothersblessingsofwhichonceyoualsoboasted:
forgriefisfeltnotsomuchforthewantofwhatwehaveneverknown,asforthelossofthattowhich
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wehavebeenlongaccustomed.Yetyouwhoarestillofanagetobegetchildrenmustbearupinthe
hopeofhavingothersintheirstead;notonlywilltheyhelpyoutoforgetthosewhomyouhavelost,
butwillbetothestateatonceareinforcementandasecurity;fornevercanafairorjustpolicybe
expectedofthecitizenwhodoesnot,likehisfellows,bringtothedecisiontheinterestsand
apprehensionsofafather.Whilethoseofyouwhohavepassedyourprimemustcongratulate
yourselveswiththethoughtthatthebestpartofyourlifewasfortunate,andthatthebriefspanthat
remainswillbecheeredbythefameofthedeparted.Foritisonlytheloveofhonourthatnever
growsold;andhonouritis,notgain,assomewouldhaveit,thatrejoicestheheartofageand
helplessness.
"Turningtothesonsorbrothersofthedead,Iseeanarduousstrugglebeforeyou.Whenamanis
gone,allarewonttopraisehim,andshouldyourmeritbeeversotranscendent,youwillstillfindit
difficultnotmerelytoovertake,buteventoapproachtheirrenown.Thelivinghaveenvytocontend
with,whilethosewhoarenolongerinourpatharehonouredwithagoodwillintowhichrivalrydoes
notenter.Ontheotherhand,ifImustsayanythingonthesubjectoffemaleexcellencetothoseofyou
whowillnowbeinwidowhood,itwillbeallcomprisedinthisbriefexhortation.Greatwillbeyour
gloryinnotfallingshortofyournaturalcharacter;andgreatestwillbeherswhoisleasttalkedof
amongthemen,whetherforgoodorforbad.
"Mytaskisnowfinished.Ihaveperformedittothebestofmyability,andinword,atleast,the
requirementsofthelawarenowsatisfied.Ifdeedsbeinquestion,thosewhoarehereinterredhave
receivedpartoftheirhonoursalready,andfortherest,theirchildrenwillbebroughtuptillmanhood
atthepublicexpense:thestatethusoffersavaluableprize,asthegarlandofvictoryinthisraceof
valour,fortherewardbothofthosewhohavefallenandtheirsurvivors.Andwheretherewardsfor
meritaregreatest,therearefoundthebestcitizens.
"Andnowthatyouhavebroughttoacloseyourlamentationsforyourrelatives,youmaydepart."
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