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It is impossible, men of Athens, impossible to gain permanent power by injustice, perjury, and falsehood.

— Demosthenes II. Second Olynthiac (-8)

οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν, οὐκ ἔστιν, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, ἀδικοῦντα καὶ ἐπιορκοῦντα καὶ ψευδόμενον δύναμιν βεβαίαν κτήσασθαι.

Original text (Ancient Greek)

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Notes from Wikiquote

For it is not, no, Athenians! it is not possible to found a lasting power upon injustice, perjury, and treachery.

Variants

(T. Leland, 1756)

More quotes by Demosthenes

Every advantage in the past is judged in the light of the final issue.

I. First Olynthiac (-8)

The end of life for all men is death, though one seek security by locking oneself in the innermost chamber.

XVIII. On the Crown (-330)

It is not possible to found a lasting power upon injustice, perjury, and treachery.

The easiest thing in the world is self-deceit; for every man believes what he wishes, though the reality is often different.

III. Third Olynthiac (-8)

For every king, every despot is the sworn foe of freedom and of law.

VI. Second Philippic (-2)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Demosthenes (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.