Thursday, January 14, 2010

The Athenian Boy's Oath

We will never bring disgrace to this, our city, by any act of dishonesty or cowardice, nor ever desert our suffering comrades in the ranks. We will fight for the ideals and sacred things of the city, both alone and with many; we will revere and obey the city's laws and do our best to incite a like respect and reverence in those above us who are prone to annul or set them at naught; we will strive unceasingly to quicken the public sense of civic duty. Thus in all these ways we will transmit this city not only less, but greater than it was transmitted to us.

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