狄摩西尼/Demosthenes
狄摩西尼（公元前384—公元前322），古代雅典政治家、演说家。他7岁时，父亲去世，留下的巨额财产被监护人侵吞。狄摩西尼成年之后，决心向法庭提出控诉。他虽然身体虚弱，但意志十分顽强，并克服口吃、吐字不清等先天缺陷，掌握了雄辩术，终于以流畅有力的言辞取得胜利。此后，他长期代人撰写状纸，投身政治，并领导雅典人民进行了近30年反对马其顿侵略的斗争。公元前322年狄摩西尼被捕，后在狱中服毒自杀。
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I should conclude, Aeschines, that you undertook this cause to exhibit your eloquence and strength of lungs, not to obtain satisfaction for any wrong. But it is not the language of an orator, Aeschines, that has any value, yet the tone of his voice, but his adopting the same views with the people, and his hating and loving the same persons that his country does. He that is thus minded will say everything with loyal intention: he that courts persons from whom the commonwealth apprehends danger to herself, rides not on the same anchorage with the people, and therefore has not the same expectation of safety. But—do you see? —I have: for my objects are the same with those of my countrymen; I have no interest separate or distinct. Is that so with you? How can it be—when immediately after the battle you went as ambassador to Philip, who was at that period the author of your country' s calamities, not with standing that you had before persisted in refusing that office, as all men know?
And who is it that deceives the state? Surely the man who speaks not what he thinks. On whom does the crier pronounce a curse? Surely on such a man. What greater crime can an orator be charged with than that his opinions and his language are not the same? Such is found to be your character. And yet you open your mouth, and dare to look these men in the faces! Do you think they don' t know you? —or are sunk all in such slumber and oblivion as not to remember the speeches which you delivered in the assembly, cursing and swearing that you had nothing to do with Philip, and that I brought that charge against you out of personal enmity without foundation? No sooner came the news of the battle, than you forgot all that; you acknowledged and avowed that between Philip and yourself there subsisted a relation of hospitality and friendship—new names these for your contract of hire. For upon what plea of equality or justice could Aeschines, son of Glaucothea the timbrel-player, be the friend or acquaintance of Philip? I can not see. No! You were hired to ruin the interests of your countrymen: and yet though you have been caught yourself in open treason, and informed against yourself after the fact, you revile and reproach me for things, which you will find any man is chargeable with sooner than I.