Lenders

and we who had lent the money, when these men themselves returned from Pontus, had nothing which we could lay hold of or keep in possession until we should recover our money;

For my own part, I have never heard of a more abominable act than that which these men have committed in relation to us, and that, too, while admitting that they received the money from us.

And they shall deliver to the lenders in their entirety the goods offered as security to be under their absolute control until such time as they shall themselves have paid the money due in accordance with the agreement.

he says, The Athenians hate money-lenders;

I, for my part, do not regard a money-lender as a wrongdoer, although certain of the class may justly be detested by you, seeing that they make a trade of it, and have no thought of pity or of anything else, except gain.

But if a man has done business as I have, going to sea on perilous journeys, and from his small profits has made these loans, wishing not only to confer favors, but to prevent his money from slipping through his fingers without his knowing it, why should one set him down in that class?

Well then, concerning the poor in the town and city we ought to consider their life and occupations — how, living and managing what kinds of things, they will be able not to live badly nor more meanly than the money-lenders who lend at heavy interest, knowing very well the number of days and months, and than those who own great tenement-houses and ships and many slaves;