One of the most accurate descriptions of democracy ever was Pericles’ funeral oration,
given by Pericles in honor of the Athenians who died fighting Sparta. In the funeral
oration, Pericles makes it clear how Athenian democracy should be the kind of government
that the world strives to have. He writes “For our government is not copied from those of
our neighbors: we are an example to them rather than they to us. Our constitution is named
a democracy, because it is in the hands of not the few but of the many” . Pericles also
states how open and accepting the citizens of Athens are because of the democracy that
they have. He states that “We have no black looks or angry words for our neighbor if he
enjoys himself in his own way, and we abstain from the little acts of churlishness which,
though they leave no mark, yet cause annoyance to hose whoso notes them” .
In the apology for the Athenian Empire, he talks about how Athens is the opposite of the
rest of mankind. He states that “We secure our friends not by accepting favors but by doing
them” . This shows a bit into the foreign policy of Athens, showing how generous they are
to other civilizations who do not try and make war with them. Instead of being aggressive,
as a super power normally would, they do things for smaller nations to try and get in their
favor. Pericles also makes the somewhat shocking statement that people who are
