Isocrates, Speeches and Letters (ed. George Norlin)
Panegyricus
Editions and translations: Greek (ed. George Norlin) | English (ed. George Norlin)
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[49] and that it is in this respect that those who are accounted wise and ignorant present the strongest contrast; and she knew, furthermore, that whether men have been liberally educated from their earliest years is not to be determined by their courage or their wealth or such advantages, but is made manifest most of all by their speech, and that this has proved itself to be the surest sign of culture in every one of us, and that those who are skilled in speech are not only men of power in their own cities but are also held in honor in other states. [50] And so far has our city distanced the rest of mankind in thought and in speech that her pupils have become the teachers1 of the rest of the world; and she has brought it about that the name Hellenes suggests no longer a race but an intelligence, and that the title Hellenes is applied rather to those who share our culture than to those who share a common blood.2
[51] But in order that I may not appear to be dwelling at length on the details when I have proposed to speak on the general subject nor to be extolling the city for these accomplishments because I lack ground for praising her conduct in war, let what I have said suffice for those who glory in such services. But I think that honor is due to our ancestors no less for their wars than for their other benefactions;
1 For Athens as the School of Greece see General Introd. p. xxviii; Isoc. 15.296; Thuc. 2.41.1. 2 See General lntrod. p. xxxiv and Isoc. 9.47 ff. Cf. the inscription on the Gennadeion in Athens: Hellênes kalountai hoi tês poedeuseôs tês hêmeteras metechontes
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Cross references from Isocrates, Speeches and Letters (ed. George Norlin):
* [Ek tou Panêgurikou]: Ek tou Panêgurikou
Cross references from Isocrates, Speeches and Letters (ed. George Norlin):
* [Extract from the Panegyricus]: Extract from the Panegyricus
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This text is based on the following book(s): Isocrates. Isocrates with an English Translation in three volumes, by George Norlin, Ph.D., LL.D. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1980. OCLC: 17454675 ISBN: 0674992318, 0674992520, 0674994116
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