No small detriment you would esteem it, as I believe, men of Athens, if some offensive opinion and discreditable to
the city should come to prevail abroad. Now then, right as you are in this judgement, your
actions in general are not consistent with it; but time and again you are misled into
doing things that not even you yourselves would say are honorable. And while I am aware
that all men receive with more pleasure those who praise than those who rebuke, yet I do
not think it right in quest of this goodwill to say anything but what I judge to be in
your interests.1