There is a great deal of wishful thinking in such cases it is the easiest thing of all to deceive ones self.

We need money, for sure, Athenians, and without money nothing can be done that ought to be done.

Nothing is so easy as to deceive one's self; for what we wish, that we readily believe; but such expectations are often inconsistent with the real state of things.

Great and unexpected successes are often the cause of foolish rushing into acts of extravagance.

Every advantage in the past is judged in the light of the final issue.

There are all kinds of devices invented for the protection and preservation of countries: defensive barriers, forts, trenches, and the like... But prudent minds have as a natural gift one safeguard which is the common possession of all, and this applies especially to the dealings of democracies. What is this safeguard? Skepticism. This you must preserve. This you must retain. If you can keep this, you need fear no harm.

There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots - suspicion.