My biggest problem with Demosthenes is simply that, when it suited him, when it was politically convenient, when he followed the principle of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" -he was quite willing to collaborate with the Persians against Macedon. One thinks of the big scandal when he was found to have accepted a fortune in gold from Harpalus, who had stolen it from Alexander, to collaborate in overthrowing Alexander in Greece . . . but there are certainly lots of indications that, for a decade and more before, he'd been awfully friendly with Persia if it did either Philip or Alexander any harm.

There's something about knowing this, and reading his speeches, that leaves a nasty taste in my mouth. I think his reputation largely stands on later generations' who pumped him up as a major patriot (just like the Romans did Cato, after the Republic fell) when, in reality, he was a weak, partisan, greedy politician.

Kallistos, you've more knowledgeable than I am on this - what are your feelings about Demosthenes?