Expediency · Atlas

in the texts

First OlynthiacClassical · Greek

The practical course Athens should choose regarding Olynthus, Philip, military action, diplomacy, and money.

There are other proposals before you for raising supplies;

of the statesmen, that they may give a ready account of their stewardship, for as is the issue of these events, so will be your judgement of their policy.

first olynthiac ¶

Now someone may tell me that to find fault is easy and in any one’s power, but that it needs a statesman to expound the policy demanded by our circumstances.

first olynthiac ¶

For the Liberty of the RhodiansClassical · Greek

The calculation of benefit, safety, and advantage that accompanies the appeal to justice.

and that I regard as no small advantage for them.

for the liberty of the rhodians ¶

Now, as you have already made up your minds to do right, you must take care that it is in your power to carry out your purpose;

for the liberty of the rhodians ¶

Personally, I never thought it a difficult task to point out to you the best policy—for, to speak plainly, you all seem to me to have discerned it already—but rather to induce you to put it into operation;

for the liberty of the rhodians ¶

On the PeaceClassical · Greek

The calculation of what practically benefits Athens in the circumstances.

Hence I always see accurately the advantageous course as suggested by actual circumstances.

on the peace ¶

Led on by these false hopes and cajoleries, you abandoned the Phocians against your own interests and against justice and honor.

on the peace ¶

I do not mean that the peace is a glorious one or even creditable to you, but, whatever we may think of it, it would better suit our purpose never to have made it than to violate it when made, because we have now sacrificed many advantages which would have made war safer and easier for us then than now.

on the peace ¶

ArchidamusClassical · Greek

Practical advantage or security, contrasted with justice and criticized when it counsels surrender.

At present we are all agreed as to what is just, while we differ as to what is expedient.

archidamus ¶

For if it were established that older men always know what is best, while the younger are never correct in their views, it would be right to exclude us from giving counsel;

archidamus ¶

Therefore, those who talk about “security” are blind to the fact that they are providing us with peace for a few days only, while contriving a state of war which will never end.

archidamus ¶

To ArchidamusClassical · Greek

The practical usefulness and feasibility of the policies Isocrates recommends.

That these things are practicable and expedient for you, for your city, and for all the Hellenes at large, it is now my task to explain.

to archidamus ¶

nay, I know perfectly well that to discover actions which are noble, great, and advantageous is difficult and given to few men, whereas to praise your virtues I should have found an easy task.

kanda 5 ¶

And I believe that if the rest of the Greek world also should be called upon to choose from all mankind both the man who by his eloquence would best be able to summon the Greeks to the expedition against the barbarians, and also the leader who would be likely most quickly to bring to fulfillment the measures recognized as expedient, they would choose no others but you and me.

to archidamus ¶

To PhilipClassical · Greek

The calculation of advantage that Isocrates treats as a decisive motive in Greek politics and in Philip's choice.

For I think that I shall propose something which is in line with both your duty and your advantage.

to philip ¶

Nay, if some god were to give you the choice of the interests and the occupations in which you would wish to spend your life, you could not, at least if you took my advice, choose any in preference to this;

to philip ¶

For I know that they have all been brought down to the same level by their misfortunes, and so I think that they would much prefer the mutual advantages which would come from a unity of purpose to the selfish gains which accrued from their policy in those days.

to philip ¶

Law in a Free State19th Century · English

The principle of practical usefulness/welfare that the narrator proposes as the true and workable basis for law, in place of Justice.

I must fall back on expediency.

chapter 3 ¶

Expediency, in the sense in which I use the term, has a meaning.

chapter 3 ¶

I regard law-making as by no means an easy task when based on expediency.

chapter 3 ¶