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Thus did the Athenians increase in strength. And it is plain
enough, not from this instance only, but from many everywhere, that
freedom is an excellent thing since even the Athenians, who, while
they continued under the rule of tyrants, were not a whit more valiant
than any of their neighbours, no sooner shook off the yoke than they
became decidedly the first of all. These things show that, while
undergoing oppression, they let themselves be beaten, since then they
worked for a master; but so soon as they got their freedom, each man
was eager to do the best he could for himself. So fared it now with
the Athenians.
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