On The Chersonese   

to-day, and with all that this or that speaker may say. For the actions
you must look to yourselves; from the speaker you must require that he
give you the best counsel that he can.[n]

{76} I desire now to sum up my advice and to leave the platform. I say
that we must contribute funds, and must keep together the force now in
existence, correcting anything that may seem amiss in it, but not
disbanding the whole force because of the possible criticisms against it.
We must send envoys everywhere to instruct, to warn, and to act. Above
all, we must punish those who take bribes in connexion with public
affairs, and must everywhere display our abhorrence of them; in order that
reasonable men, who offer their honest services, may find their policy
justified in their own eyes and in those of others. {77} If you treat the
situation thus, and cease to ignore it altogether, there is a chance--a
chance I say, even now--that it may improve. If, however, you sit idle,
with an interest that stops short at applause and acclamation, and retires
into the background when any action is required, I can imagine no oratory,
which, without action on your part, will be able to save your country.