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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from The Symposium by Xenophon: ease, I get a good night's rest. The distrust of my fellow-citizens
has vanished; instead of trembling at threats, it is now my turn to
threaten; at last I feel myself a freeman, with liberty to go abroad
or stay at home as suits my fancy. The tables now are turned. It is
the rich who rise to give me their seats, who stand aside and make way
for me as I meet them in the streets. To-day I am like a despot,
yesterday I was literally a slave; formerly it was I who had to pay my
tribute[51] to the sovereign people, now it is I who am supported by
the state by means of general taxation.[52]
[49] "And police agents."
[50] Cf. "Mem." II. viii. 1.
The Symposium |
