Political counsel
idea · 3 works · 3 mentions · 4 anchored passages
counsel · advice · advise · deliberate · exhort · give counsel · measures · practical advice · services rendered · views about the situation
in the texts
To Antipater
Practical advice in public affairs, especially the kind Diodotus can provide to powerful men.
This experience Diodotus has met with in his relations with some of the potentates of Asia, to whom he had often been of service, not only in offering counsel, but also in venturing upon dangerous deeds;
and partly believing you are not unaware that the most agreeable and profitable of all things is to win by one’s kind deeds friends who are at the same time both loyal and useful, and to befriend men of such character that on their account many others also will be grateful to you.
All this I should not dare to say of him if I did not possess the most precise knowledge of him gained by experience, and if I were not anticipating that you would gain the same, partly through your own association with him and partly from the testimony of his acquaintances, of whom there is no one who would not agree, unless he be exceedingly envious, that Diodotus is inferior to none in eloquenc …
To Archidamus
Practical advice about public affairs, offered as more beneficial than praise.
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.
Since I know, Archidamus, that many persons are eager to sing the praises of you, your father, and your family, I have chosen to leave to them that topic, since it would be a very easy one to treat.
Any man who should relate these achievements, not in polished style, but simply, and without stylistic embellishment, merely telling the tale of them and speaking in random fashion, could not fail to win renown.
To Dionysius
Practical advice concerning public action and the welfare of the Hellenes.
I intend to speak to you about important matters, matters about which no living person may more fittingly hear than you.
And yet, certain persons who have been admitted to your presence have attempted to frighten me, saying that while you honor flatterers, you despise those who offer you advice.
Nevertheless, since you are to be the judge in this matter, I have great hope that I shall prove to be saying something of value, as I think you will disregard all the difficulties just mentioned and will direct your attention to the matters themselves.