Athenian Democracy
Athenian Democracy
Athenian Democracy
Pericles, a statesman of ancient Athens, made this speech at a public funeral after the
first battle of the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC.
Excerpt from Pericles’s Funeral Oration, 431 BC
Our form of government does not enter into rivalry [competition] 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 [spreads
through] our public acts; we are prevented from doing wrong by respect for the
authorities and for the laws. . . .
1. Which phrase from the excerpt BEST expresses a central idea of democracy?
A. “Our government does not copy our neighbors’”
B. “administration is in the hands of the many”
C. “we are not suspicious of one another”
D. “a spirit of reverence pervades our public acts”
Athenian Democracy
1. Choice B is correct. Democracy is rule by the people.
2. Choice A is correct. Pericles said, “while there exists equal justice to all and alike.”
3. Choice D is correct. Pericles said, “a man may benefit his country whatever the obscurity of
his condition.” This means that all people can (and should) serve in some way.