3
What is more, if, in the case of a servicePublic services required of wealthy citizens at their own expense were called λῃτουργίαι; these are to be distinguished from services to which salaries were attached, ὑπηρεσίαι: see Dem. Ex. 52 and note. due to you they think I am going to leave it to themselves to decide, they are fools. And, perhaps, they both wish and expect it; this I will not do, but if they will allow me, I shall launch the ship and do my duty; otherwise, I shall reveal to you the names of those responsible.Demosthenes, as a member of a group (συντέλεια) responsible for equipping a trireme under the system of Navy-Boards, protests against being assessed more than his equitable share. Apparently, the expenditures were specified in the decrees of the Assembly but the officials were making demands in excess of the specifications. For abuses of the system see Dem. 18.104 and Dem. 21.155. Demosthenes may have been chairman of a Navy-Board at the time; Dem. 21.157.
1
In my opinion, men of Athens, no intelligent citizen would deny that it is best of all for the city, preferably at the outset not to do anything inexpedient, but otherwise, that those should be on hand who will object at once. To this must be added, however, that you shall be willing to listen and learn; for nothing is gained by having a man who will give the best counsel unless he shall have people who will listen to him.
