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First of all, men of Athens, it is necessary that you bring about harmonyCicero saturated his mind with the writings of Demosthenes. Political harmony will be recognized as his political ideal: Ad Atticum 1. 14. 4; his friend Demitrius of Magnesia wrote on the subject: ibid. 8. 11. 7. The Romans deified this abstraction under the name Concordia among yourselves for the common good of the State and drop all the contentions inherited from previous assemblies and, in the second place, that you all with one mind vigorously support your decisions, since the failure to follow either a uniform policy or to act consistently is not only unworthy of you and ignoble but, in addition, involves the greatest risks.
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Those things must not escape your attention either, which, though by themselves they are not sufficient to effect your purpose, yet when added to your military forces, will render all your aims much easier of accomplishment. To what, then, do I refer? Toward no city and toward none of the citizens in this or that city who have supported the existing orderThe cities of Greece were forced to set up pro-Macedonian governments after the battle of Chaeronea in 338 B.C. A Macedonian garrison was stationed in Thebes. Athens was less harshly treated but outspoken advocates of freedom were out of favour. must you harbor any bitternessThe verb πικραίνεσθαι is cited as used by Demosthenes, Bekker, 1. p. 111. 31. or bear a grudge.
