Today's Passage
This passage occurs during the debate at Sparta in 432 BCE, just before the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War.
Crawley Translation (1910)
“Surely, Lacedaemonians, neither by the patriotism that we displayed at that crisis, nor by the wisdom of our counsels, do we merit our extreme unpopularity with the Hellenes, not at least unpopularity for our empire. That empire we acquired by no violent means, but because you were unwilling to prosecute to its conclusion the war against the barbarian, and because the allies attached themselves to us and spontaneously asked us to assume the command. And the nature of the case first compelled us to advance our empire to its present height; fear being our principal motive, though honour and interest afterwards came in. And at last, when almost all hated us, when some had already revolted and had been subdued, when you had ceased to be the friends that you once were, and had become objects of suspicion and dislike, it appeared no longer safe to give up our empire; especially as all who left us would fall to you. And no one can quarrel with a people for making, in matters of tremendous risk, the best provision that it can for its interest.
“You, at all events, Lacedaemonians, have used your supremacy to settle the states in Peloponnese as is agreeable to you. And if at the period of which we were speaking you had persevered to the end of the matter, and had incurred hatred in your command, we are sure that you would have made yourselves just as galling to the allies, and would have been forced to choose between a strong government and danger to yourselves. It follows that it was not a very wonderful action, or contrary to the common practice of mankind, if we did accept an empire that was offered to us, and refused to give it up under the pressure of three of the strongest motives, fear, honour, and interest. And it was not we who set the example, for it has always been law that the weaker should be subject to the stronger. Besides, we believed ourselves to be worthy of our position, and so you thought us till now, when calculations of interest have made you take up the cry of justice—a consideration which no one ever yet brought forward to hinder his ambition when he had a chance of gaining anything by might. And praise is due to all who, if not so superior to human nature as to refuse dominion, yet respect justice more than their position compels them to do.
Modern Translation
Certainly, Spartans, we don't deserve the extreme hostility we face from the Greeks—not based on the patriotism we showed during the Persian crisis, nor the wisdom of our policies, and certainly not for possessing an empire. We didn't acquire this empire through force, but rather because you were unwilling to finish the war against the Persians, and because our allies voluntarily approached us, requesting that we take command. The circumstances themselves initially forced us to expand our empire to its current extent. Fear was our primary motivation, though considerations of honor and advantage followed later. Eventually, when nearly everyone despised us, when some states had already rebelled and been suppressed, when you yourselves had transformed from friends into suspicious adversaries, it seemed no longer safe to relinquish our empire—especially since any state that abandoned us would immediately join you. No one can blame a people for taking the best possible measures to ensure their security when facing enormous risks.
You Spartans, after all, have arranged the Peloponnesian states according to your own preferences through your hegemony. If you had continued leading against Persia back then and had become as unpopular as we are now through your command, we're certain you would have become equally oppressive to the allies and would have faced the same choice between maintaining strict control or endangering yourselves. Therefore, it wasn't particularly remarkable or contrary to human nature that we accepted an empire offered to us and then refused to abandon it when pressed by the three most powerful motivations: fear, honor, and self-interest. We didn't establish this precedent—it has always been the natural order that the weaker submit to the stronger. Furthermore, we considered ourselves worthy of our position, and you agreed until now, when your own calculations of advantage have led you to invoke justice—a principle that has never yet prevented anyone from seizing what they could through strength when opportunity arose. Those deserve praise who, while not so superhuman as to reject power, still honor justice more than their position requires.
Historical Context
This passage occurs during the debate at Sparta in 432 BCE, just before the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War. An Athenian embassy, ostensibly present on other business, has taken the floor to defend Athens' imperial position after Corinthian delegates accused Athens of aggression. The speaker articulates the famous 'Athenian Thesis'—that empire is driven by fear, honor, and interest, and that the strong naturally dominate the weak. This defense represents a crucial moment where Athens abandons moral justifications for its empire and embraces realpolitik. The speech reveals the fundamental incompatibility between Athenian and Spartan worldviews that would fuel nearly three decades of warfare. By arguing that Sparta would have acted identically in Athens' position, the speaker attempts to normalize Athenian imperialism while subtly threatening Sparta with the consequences of war.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
The Athenian Empire
After the Persian Wars (490-479 BCE), Athens transformed the Delian League from a voluntary defensive alliance into an empire. Member states paid tribute to Athens, which used these funds to build its navy and beautify the city. By 432 BCE, most 'allies' were subjects who couldn't leave the alliance without facing military retaliation.
Learn more →Spartan Hegemony
Sparta dominated the Peloponnesian League through a combination of military might and political manipulation. Unlike Athens' monetary tribute system, Sparta required military service from allies and installed oligarchic governments favorable to Spartan interests throughout the Peloponnese.
Learn more →The Athenian Thesis
This passage articulates the 'Athenian Thesis' or 'Thucydidean Thesis': that human nature compels states to pursue power when possible, motivated by fear, honor, and interest. This amoral view of international relations profoundly influenced later political philosophy, particularly realist theories of international relations.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Herodotus: Histories (Book 8.3)
Herodotus describes the formation of the Hellenic League against Persia and Athens' acceptance of Spartan leadership, providing background for the Athenian speaker's claim about Sparta's unwillingness to continue the war.
Read passage →Aristotle: Politics (Book 5.1304b)
Aristotle discusses how states naturally pursue their advantage and how fear drives political actions, echoing the Athenian thesis about the motivations of fear, honor, and interest in statecraft.
Read passage →Plutarch: Life of Pericles (Chapter 12)
Plutarch describes how Pericles justified using allied tribute for Athenian building projects, illustrating the transformation of the Delian League into an Athenian empire mentioned in this speech.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- Is the Athenian speaker's argument that 'might makes right' a universal truth about human nature, or a self-serving justification for imperialism?
- How does the speaker's claim that Sparta would have acted the same way in Athens' position affect the moral dimension of the argument?
- What role does the concept of 'justice' play in international relations, according to this passage? Is it merely a tool of the weak?
- How might this defense of empire based on 'fear, honor, and interest' apply to modern international relations?