Action
idea · 2 works · 2 mentions · 4 anchored passages
action · act · fight · public affairs · put your resolutions into practice · the conduct of public affairs
in the texts
Third Olynthiac
Practical civic and military execution, presented as more important than speech or formal votes.
You have among you, Athenians, men competent to say the right thing, no nation is quicker-witted to grasp the meaning of speech, and you will at once be able to translate it into action, if only you do your duty.
At the same time, Athenians, you must not forget this, that a mere decree is worthless without a willingness on your part to put your resolutions into practice.
If, therefore, even at the eleventh hour, you can shake off these habits, and consent to fight and act as becomes Athenians and to devote the abundant resources that you have at home to the attainment of success abroad, perhaps, men of Athens, perhaps you may gain some important and unqualified advantage and may be quit of these paltry perquisites.
On Leisure
Engagement in public affairs and practical deeds, treated as one of the two ends of human nature alongside contemplation, and necessary to complete virtue.
Just as to grasp after things with no love of the virtues and no cultivation of the mind, and to perform mere bare deeds, is by no means to be approved—for these things ought to be blended and woven together—so virtue cast into a leisure without action is an imperfect and feeble good, never displaying what it has learned.
"The wise man will not approach public affairs, unless something intervenes";
Who denies that virtue ought to test its progress in actual work, ought not merely to ponder what is to be done, but at times also to put its hand to the task and bring what has been pondered to realization?