Pericles
was born into the best families of Athens, both on his father's and mother's side. He received a good education from his teachers, including the philosopher Zeno. So adept was Zeno at sophistry that it was said Zeno could prove any proposition to be false.
learned most from Anaxagoras, who imparted to young the majesty and gravity he had in all his sayings and doings, superior to all arts of popularity. Anaxagoras was the first philosopher to attribute the order of the world to intelligence, rather than to chance or necessity, and to explain power as the affinity of similar things. With his mind occupied by such thoughts, was dignified in his language and serene and calm in his ...
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of virtue. But Zeno replied that if were faking virtue, his detractors should do the same, because even pretending to be good, if this is
continued for long enough, will give a man the desire and practice that is needed for good habits.
was very wealthy, and his skill with words made him famous in Athens while he was still a young man. But because he was afraid of being ostracized, and banished for being too great a man, stayed out of
politics for a long time. He was not at ease among common people, but when he decided to participate in public affairs he joined the democratic party. His rival, Cimon, led the aristocratic party. Once he entered politics, gave up going to dinner with his friends, and he avoided all social events of any kind, believing that familiarity causes contempt.
Such friendly meetings make it impossible to keep up a front of fake greatness. Perfect virtue, however, is most excellent in common things, and welcomes inspection. Truly good men do not ...
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By the measures he
introduced, the Athenians were transformed from a sober and thrifty people, who maintained themselves by their own labors, into dishonest and lazy addicts of public funds.
The government shriveled into insignificance as the people, led by Pericles, overruled the decisions of their elected representatives. With the people steering policy by their uproar, Pericles became the most powerful man in Athens, yet he had never been elected to any public office. Having, in effect, bought their support, he made use of the masses against his political opponents so that he became a kind disguised as a champion of the people. Pericles contrived to have his rival ...
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"Pericles." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 20 Oct. 2006. Web. 2 May. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Pericles/54228>
"Pericles." Essayworld.com. October 20, 2006. Accessed May 2, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Pericles/54228.
"Pericles." Essayworld.com. October 20, 2006. Accessed May 2, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Pericles/54228.
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