The Oration Against Leptines

The Oration Against Leptines is a speech delivered by the Athenian statesman and orator Demosthenes in 355 BCE. The speech was given in response to a proposed law by Leptines, a fellow Athenian politician, which would have repealed certain exemptions from liturgies (public services) granted to some wealthy Athenians. Demosthenes argues that the proposed law is unjust and harmful to the city-state of Athens. He claims that the exemptions were granted to these wealthy Athenians as a way to encourage them to invest in the city and its infrastructure. He also argues that the proposed law would unfairly burden these individuals and discourage them from continuing to invest in the city.Throughout the speech, Demosthenes employs various rhetorical strategies to persuade his audience, including appeals to justice, emotion, and practicality. He also uses historical examples and references to Athenian law and tradition to support his arguments.The Oration Against Leptines is considered one of Demosthenes' most successful speeches, both in terms of its rhetorical effectiveness and its impact on Athenian politics. It is an important example of Athenian political rhetoric and a valuable source for understanding the political and social issues of ancient Athens.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.