Book II - Wilbourhall.org

252 0OYKYAIAOY SYTVPA^U'E B.an intermission from toil, in ordained festivals and solemnsacrifices offered throughout the year, and in the elegance ofour homes : and the delight we have daily in them scaressadness away. (2) Thanks to the greatness of our state, allproducts of the whole world are brought to us ; with theresult that the good things of other countries are aa truly oursfor our enjoyment as those produced at home.30. (1) Again, our military training is in favourable contrastto that of our enemies. Our city is open to all men.No expulsions of foreigners prevent a man from learning orseeing anything, even when the information would be valuableto our enemies. For we rely on our stout hearts and inborncourage, not on stratagem and deception. And, in education,they strive to make themselves brave by irksome practicebegun early in life ; but we live at ease, and yet we endurehazards as dangerous as they. (2) The proof of this is thatthe Lacedaemonians do not invade our land by themselves,but brin^ all their allies with them ; whereas we march intoneighbouring countries alone, and, though fighting on foreignsoil and against men who are defending their hearth and home,we generally gain an easy victory. (3) Our full strength, too,none of our enemies have yet encountered, because we sendout our own citizens on many expeditions by land, while atthe same time our fleet claims our attention. But, if theymeet some small portion of our army and win a battle, theyvaunt that they have routed us all, and when defeated, theysay they have been beaten by us all. (4) Now surely if wechoose to face danger calmly rather than by laborious training,by habits and not by rules of courage, we are the gainers ; forwe do not anticipate trouble, and yet when face to face withit, we bahave with as much courage as those who are alwayspractising.But it IS not only in war that our state has the advantageand is worthy of admiration. 40. (1 ) For we combine love ofthe beautiful with simplicity, and love of culture with manliness.Wealth we regard as a means for action, not as asubject for fine talk, and while it is no disgrace to a man toadmit that he is poor, it is a disgrace not to try to avoidpoverty by work. (2) While we attend to our homes wedo not neglect politics, and though we may have other businessto attend to, we have a thorough knowledge of public affairs.We alone regard a man who takes no interest in them not asone who shrinks from publicity, but as a useless person ; andall of us, though we cannot strike out a new line of policy, canat least criticise a proposal. It is not debate that hindersaction, in our opinion, but the want of clear instruction in thefacts before we take the necessary action. (3) In fact theadvantaee we have is just this, that we are as daring as any-