A meditation on the importance of meritocracy to democratic government, by Pericles / Thucydides
Given by Athenian general and statesman Pericles in the fifth century BCE and recorded by Thucydides in his History of the Peloponnesian War:
Our form of government does not enter into rivalry with the institutions of others. Our government does not copy our neighbors', but is an example to them. It is true that we are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not of the few. But while there exists equal justice to all and alike in their private disputes, the claim of excellence is also recognized; and when a citizen is in any way distinguished, he is preferred to the public service, not as a matter of privilege, but as the reward of merit. Neither is poverty an obstacle, but a man may benefit his country whatever the obscurity of his condition. There is no exclusiveness in our public life, and in our private business we are not suspicious of one another, nor angry with our neighbor if he does what he likes; we do not put on sour looks at him which, though harmless, are not pleasant. While we are thus unconstrained in our private business, a spirit of reverence pervades our public acts; we are prevented from doing wrong by respect for the authorities and for the laws, having a particular regard to those which are ordained for the protection of the injured as well as those unwritten laws which bring upon the transgressor of them the reprobation of the general sentiment.
-
55:09
Flyover Conservatives
1 day agoHollywood’s Dark Side: The Transgender Symbol of Satan & the Rise of Baphomet - Clay Clark; The Cultural Shifts Away from Kamala Harris | FOC Show
57.7K21 -
2:28:50
WeAreChange
10 hours agoDiddy Foreknowledge Surfaces! All UNRAVELING Now In Hollywood?!
100K34 -
1:20:48
Michael Franzese
1 day agoDemocrat's Message: "Who will rid us of Trump?" | Michael Franzese LIVE! Ep. 20
81.4K208 -
1:06:31
Josh Pate's College Football Show
9 hours agoWeek 5 Predictions: UGA vs Alabama | OU vs Auburn | Big JP Poll Moves | Surprises & Disappointments
57.6K4 -
1:10:38
The Anthony Rogers Show
13 hours agoEpisode 241
25.7K2 -
54:45
LFA TV
1 day agoTargeting Donald Trump | Trumpet Daily 9.24.24 9PM EST
29.6K14 -
59:23
The StoneZONE with Roger Stone
9 hours agoFmr. FBI Agent Questions West Palm Attack On Trump | The StoneZONE w/ Roger Stone
39.5K18 -
1:10:30
Edge of Wonder
9 hours agoDiddy’s Downfall: How the Power of Music Can Be Weaponized
38K17 -
21:09
Breaking Points
14 hours ago100% DROP In Afghan Opium: How CIA Propped Up Drug Trade For Years
45K18 -
10:02
Tundra Tactical
12 hours agoIs Hollywood Behind The 2nd Trump Assassination Attempt?
32.6K8