The secret of happiness is freedom, the secret of freedom is courage

The Greek historian and general Thucydides shared this quote from Pericles, the Athenian statesman. It is from Pericles' funeral oration in the second year of the great Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. He urged the citizens of Athens to support the fight against the Spartans, the unrivaled land power in Greece. It was to be a formidable challenge. Pericles' message was delivered to citizens of a democracy, and the courage he demanded was not only on the battlefield, but also in conducting the affairs of state. What good would a victory over Sparta be if Athens lost its democracy. Good advice from the first democracy to all of us from 2500 years ago. The war lasted for over 25 years and the advantage swung back and forth. The plague that struck Athens, and claimed Pericles' life early in the war, severely weakened Athens. But Athens was a great naval power, and they devised a plan to conquer the rich city-state of Syracuse, in present-day Sicily, to increase Athens' war making capabilities. Unfortunately, the Syracusans hired Gylippus, a Spartan general, to prepare for the defense of the city. As a result, the Athenian invaders were routed, and their fleet was decimated. Ever since then, ill-conceived invasions that go very badly have often been called "a Syracuse expedition". Sparta won the war and Athens' golden age ended with a tyranny for government. But fortunately for western civilization, the achievements of Athens in philosophy, science, and the arts endured, helped not a little by the adoption of Greek culture by the Romans, whose incalculable legacy is in great part due to the "Greek achievement". Our founders drew much if their inspiration and guidance from Athens and Rome in devising our own democratic republic.