Today's Passage
This passage contains part of Alcibiades' speech to the Athenian assembly in 415 BCE, advocating for the Sicilian Expedition.
Crawley Translation (1910)
“In this state of things what reason can we give to ourselves for holding back, or what excuse can we offer to our allies in Sicily for not helping them? They are our confederates, and we are bound to assist them, without objecting that they have not assisted us. We did not take them into alliance to have them to help us in Hellas, but that they might so annoy our enemies in Sicily as to prevent them from coming over here and attacking us. It is thus that empire has been won, both by us and by all others that have held it, by a constant readiness to support all, whether barbarians or Hellenes, that invite assistance; since if all were to keep quiet or to pick and choose whom they ought to assist, we should make but few new conquests, and should imperil those we have already won. Men do not rest content with parrying the attacks of a superior, but often strike the first blow to prevent the attack being made. And we cannot fix the exact point at which our empire shall stop; we have reached a position in which we must not be content with retaining but must scheme to extend it, for, if we cease to rule others, we are in danger of being ruled ourselves. Nor can you look at inaction from the same point of view as others, unless you are prepared to change your habits and make them like theirs.
“Be convinced, then, that we shall augment our power at home by this adventure abroad, and let us make the expedition, and so humble the pride of the Peloponnesians by sailing off to Sicily, and letting them see how little we care for the peace that we are now enjoying; and at the same time we shall either become masters, as we very easily may, of the whole of Hellas through the accession of the Sicilian Hellenes, or in any case ruin the Syracusans, to the no small advantage of ourselves and our allies. The faculty of staying if successful, or of returning, will be secured to us by our navy, as we shall be superior at sea to all the Siceliots put together. And do not let the do-nothing policy which Nicias advocates, or his setting of the young against the old, turn you from your purpose, but in the good old fashion by which our fathers, old and young together, by their united counsels brought our affairs to their present height, do you endeavour still to advance them; understanding that neither youth nor old age can do anything the one without the other, but that levity, sobriety, and deliberate judgment are strongest when united, and that, by sinking into inaction, the city, like everything else, will wear itself out, and its skill in everything decay; while each fresh struggle will give it fresh experience, and make it more used to defend itself not in word but in deed. In short, my conviction is that a city not inactive by nature could not choose a quicker way to ruin itself than by suddenly adopting such a policy, and that the safest rule of life is to take one’s character and institutions for better and for worse, and to live up to them as closely as one can.”
Modern Translation
Given these circumstances, what justification can we offer ourselves for hesitating, or what excuse can we present to our allies in Sicily for failing to support them? They are our confederates, and we are obligated to help them, regardless of whether they have helped us. We didn't form alliances with them expecting assistance in Greece, but rather so they would harass our enemies in Sicily and prevent those enemies from crossing over to attack us. This is how empire has been acquired—both by us and by all who have possessed one—through unwavering readiness to support anyone who requests aid, whether Greek or barbarian. If everyone remained passive or became selective about whom to assist, we would make few new acquisitions and endanger what we already possess. People don't simply defend against attacks from stronger powers; they often strike preemptively to prevent such attacks. We cannot determine precisely where our empire should stop expanding. We've reached a point where merely maintaining our possessions isn't enough—we must actively plan to extend them, because if we stop ruling others, we risk being ruled ourselves. You cannot view inaction through the same lens as others do, unless you're prepared to abandon your way of life and adopt theirs.
Be assured, then, that this foreign expedition will strengthen our position at home. Let us undertake it to humble the Peloponnesians' arrogance by sailing to Sicily, demonstrating how little we value our current peace. We will either become masters of all Greece—which we can easily achieve—through gaining the Sicilian Greeks' support, or at minimum we'll destroy Syracuse, greatly benefiting ourselves and our allies. Our naval superiority over all Sicily combined guarantees our ability to remain if successful or return if necessary. Don't let Nicias's advocacy for inaction or his attempt to pit young against old dissuade you from your objective. Instead, follow the proven tradition by which our ancestors, through unified counsel of young and old together, elevated our state to its current greatness, and strive to advance it further. Understand that neither youth nor age can accomplish anything alone, but that recklessness, moderation, and careful deliberation achieve maximum strength when combined. By lapsing into passivity, the city will exhaust itself like anything else, and its capabilities will atrophy. Each new challenge, however, provides fresh experience and trains us to defend ourselves through action, not mere words. Simply put, I'm convinced that a naturally active city could find no faster path to destruction than suddenly embracing inactivity, and that the safest principle is to accept one's character and institutions, flaws and all, and live according to them as faithfully as possible.
Historical Context
This passage contains part of Alcibiades' speech to the Athenian assembly in 415 BCE, advocating for the Sicilian Expedition. The debate centers on whether Athens should send a massive force to Sicily to support their allies against Syracuse. Nicias, the older, more conservative general, has just argued against the expedition, warning of its dangers and the risks of overextension. Alcibiades, young and ambitious, counters by articulating a doctrine of perpetual expansion—Athens must continue growing or risk decline. This speech exemplifies the aggressive imperialism that characterized Athens at its height and foreshadows the disaster that would unfold in Sicily, ultimately contributing to Athens' defeat in the Peloponnesian War. The passage reveals fundamental tensions in Athenian democracy between cautious conservatism and ambitious expansionism.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Athenian Imperialism
Alcibiades articulates the 'Athenian thesis' that empire requires constant expansion. This ideology held that power must grow or decay, with no stable middle ground. Athens justified its empire as necessary for survival, arguing that the strong naturally dominate the weak.
Learn more →The Sicilian Expedition
The largest military operation of the Peloponnesian War, involving over 100 ships and thousands of troops. Its catastrophic failure (415-413 BCE) marked the beginning of Athens' decline, validating Nicias's warnings about imperial overreach.
Learn more →Generational Politics
Alcibiades addresses Nicias's attempt to divide young and old, advocating instead for unity. This reflects ongoing tensions in Athens between ambitious youth and cautious elders, a dynamic that Aristophanes satirized in his comedies.
Learn more →Naval Supremacy
Athens' confidence rested on its unmatched navy, which controlled the Aegean and enabled its empire. Alcibiades assumes this superiority will translate to Sicily, underestimating local resistance and logistical challenges of distant operations.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Plutarch: Life of Alcibiades (17-18)
Plutarch describes the same debate, emphasizing Alcibiades' personal ambition and charisma in swaying the assembly, while noting how his extravagance and reputation concerned many Athenians.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (12.83-84)
Provides an alternative account of the Sicilian debate, offering different details about the arguments presented and the political maneuvering behind the expedition.
Read passage →Xenophon: Hellenica (1.1.1-23)
Though focusing on later events, Xenophon's account of Athens' final years shows the long-term consequences of the imperial overreach that Alcibiades advocates here.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Alcibiades' argument about perpetual expansion reflect or challenge modern theories of international relations and power?
- What role does fear play in Alcibiades' justification for empire? How does this compare to defensive versus offensive military doctrines today?
- How does Alcibiades manipulate the concept of tradition and unity between generations to support a radical policy?
- Is there validity to the argument that a dynamic society must continue expanding or face decline? What historical examples support or refute this?