Premium Only Content

A meditation on the importance of meritocracy to democratic government, by Pericles / Thucydides
Given by Athenian general and statesman Pericles in the fifth century BCE and recorded by Thucydides in his History of the Peloponnesian War:
Our form of government does not enter into rivalry with the institutions of others. Our government does not copy our neighbors', but is an example to them. It is true that we are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not of the few. But while there exists equal justice to all and alike in their private disputes, the claim of excellence is also recognized; and when a citizen is in any way distinguished, he is preferred to the public service, not as a matter of privilege, but as the reward of merit. Neither is poverty an obstacle, but a man may benefit his country whatever the obscurity of his condition. There is no exclusiveness in our public life, and in our private business we are not suspicious of one another, nor angry with our neighbor if he does what he likes; we do not put on sour looks at him which, though harmless, are not pleasant. While we are thus unconstrained in our private business, a spirit of reverence pervades our public acts; we are prevented from doing wrong by respect for the authorities and for the laws, having a particular regard to those which are ordained for the protection of the injured as well as those unwritten laws which bring upon the transgressor of them the reprobation of the general sentiment.
-
22:39
Forrest Galante
1 day agoPrivate Tour of Australia's Craziest Zoo
157K13 -
6:57:31
ABNERDAGREAT
9 hours ago🔴DISCORD VC/MUSIC ZELDA BREATH OF THE WILD SWITCH 2 EDITION🔴
10.8K1 -
1:06:42
The Connect: With Johnny Mitchell
3 days ago $25.89 earnedTruth About The Epstein Files: CIA Agent Reveals The Connection Between The Mossad, Epstein, & Trump
77.3K85 -
1:59:00
Side Scrollers Podcast
21 hours agoSuperman Movie MELTDOWN, FBI SEIZES Game Websites, Elmo Gets HACKED | Side Scrollers Live
21.1K5 -
LIVE
Welsh Girl
11 hours ago🔴 Is WoW Getting Worse or Better? Day 5
122 watching -
6:56:18
RECON-RAT Guns & Gaming
2 days ago $0.15 earnedRECON-RAT - ARMA Reforger WWII - Testing new mod!
6.78K1 -
2:39:33
The Pascal Show
19 hours ago $7.77 earnedBREAKING! SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING! Ghislaine Maxwell Wants To Expose All On Epstein List?! & More
24.2K15 -
13:05
GritsGG
16 hours agoRecon Contracts Are YOUR Key to Warzone Victory!
19.2K2 -
2:17:50
Inverted World Live
11 hours agoUFO Hits US Military Jet | Ep. 74
256K35 -
6:35:59
SpartakusLIVE
13 hours ago#1 Monday MOTIVATOR || Charity Stream Wednesday, The Gauntlet SOON, and 2v2s RETURN?!?!
66.3K