A New Beginning and the Wisdom of the Past: Why the Greek Classics are Still Relevant

Along with millions of people around the world, I, too, watched as President-elect Barack Obama graciously thanked the American people for voting him into the highest office in the land. His was an inspiring message of change and hope; in a sweeping estimation of the work ahead, Barack Obama's words resounded and reached us as distinct individuals, we singled out those words more relevant to each one of us.

As Greece's Ambassador to the United States, representing the world's first democracy in the world's current most powerful democracy, some of his words spoke particularly to me, when he said that America's "true strength... comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals".

Considering the man, I was not surprised to hear him speak these words, reminiscent of the writings of one ancient Greek in particular, Isocrates, one of Greece's greatest orators. In his oration "On Peace", Isocrates proposes to the Athenian assembly policies for lasting peace with their neighbors. Along with suggestions, it is also recorded in the most relevant and timeless handbook, Thucydides' "History of the Peloponnesian Wars," written some 2,500 years ago. From this timeless text, one can draw lessons on how to treat allies, how to prepare for war, on the value of good advisors, warnings as to the arrogance, as well as the limits of power.

One of the most important lessons in this oration is that justice and interest, two seemingly irreconcilable concepts, are not mutually exclusive. Isocrates argues that justice, while making us better individuals, better nations, is at the same time a means of protecting one's self interest; power without justice leads to ill repute; power without justice will not win allies. He asserts that maintenance of power presupposes the existence of justice.

Thus, he tells the Athenians "We must be willing to treat our allies as we would our friends... and not exercise our leadership as masters but as helpers." "So we shall not lack allies... and shall find many ready and willing to join their forces with our own. For what city or what men will not be eager to share our friendship and our alliance when they see that we are at once the most just and the most powerful of peoples?"

I am not, nor do I pretend to be a classicist, and I confess that my first exposure to the classics wasn't even voluntary; I am Greek, after all, and studying the ancient Greeks was part and parcel of my basic education, from which I have drawn inspiration and counsel; valid and valuable today. Yet, it wasn't until my adult life that I recognized the value of this gift.

The Greeks were the first to explore most of the questions that continue to concern thinkers to this day, as they strive to understand, in logical, rational terms, both the universe and the position of men and women in it. Their speculating on society and the human beings gave birth to philosophy and science, eventually introducing the very concept of politics, and ultimately democracy.

The Founding Fathers of the United States, avid readers of Plato, Aristotle, and Greek history as recorded by Thucydides, Plutarch and Xenophon, looked to history for lessons for the future. From the classics, they drew inspiration, but also sought the key to protecting America against the pitfalls that weakened Greek city-states and rendered them vulnerable. The Federalist Papers themselves are testament to the lessons the Founding Fathers drew from the ancient Greeks. In these Papers, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton warned against tyrants who undid the liberties of republics, and sought ways to inoculate the United States from conspiracies, giving rise to the checks and balances of government. Legend has it that Thomas Jefferson carried his Greek grammar book with him wherever he went.

The very concept of public service, so highly regarded in the United States, whether in politics or as community volunteer, has its beginnings in ancient Athens. In his famous Funeral Oration, Pericles expounds on opportunity and prestige of serving your country, your society, presenting it as reward rather than an obligation:

...when a citizen is in any way distinguished, he is preferred to the public service, not as a matter of privilege, but as the reward of merit. Neither is poverty an obstacle, but a man may benefit his country whatever the obscurity of his condition. There is no exclusiveness in our public life...

The value of the Greek classics was not lost on another great man, Martin Luther King Jr. As a young man, with my own country under the heavy hand of a dictatorship, the news of Martin Luther King's death reached me across the Atlantic and his words sounded more relevant.

Dr. King's "Letter From Birmingham Jail" of April 16, 1963, expounding upon his own theory of civil disobedience to his fellow clergymen, his words "I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment... is in reality expressing the highest respect for law" brought to mind Antigone, a reluctant but inevitably brave heroine, in Sophocles' namesake play, who said: "I will not obey an unjust law, and if something happens because of it -- so be it." Classics Professor Lewis Sussman from the University of Florida has written extensively on this connection.

Proof of the inspiration that Dr. King imparted from the classics is ample in the last speech of his life, which resounded around the world only the day before his assassination in Memphis on April 3, 1968, "I've Been to the Mountaintop":

I would take my mental flight by Egypt through, or rather across the Red Sea, through the wilderness on toward the promised land. And in spite of its magnificence, I wouldn't stop there. I would move on by Greece, and take my mind to Mount Olympus. And I would see Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Euripides and Aristophanes assembled around the Parthenon as they discussed the great and eternal issues of reality.

In my capacity as ambassador, as involved negotiator in issues of concern to my country, particularly today with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, conflicts in many other regions, with challenges of climate change, terrorism, an economic crisis, I recognize the value of the Greek classics, of Thucydides, of Isocrates, of Xenophon.

On preparing for war, Isocrates counsels:

base our preparations against an enemy on the assumption that his plans are sound; indeed, it is right to rest our hopes not on a belief in his blunders, but on the soundness of our provisions... We must not rest our hopes of safety upon the blunders of our enemies but upon our own management of affairs and upon our own judgment.

And in the ancient plays of "Trojan Women", "The Persians" and "Lysistrata," the victors, not the defeated, talk of the evils of war, on the inhumane prize on individuals, in an effort to reign in the arrogance of power, as they recognize the down-side of their own policies and actions.

On the value of good advisors, Isocrates counsels again "The first way improve the condition of our state is to select as our advisers on affairs of state the kind of men whose advice we should desire on our private affairs".

Restoring the Politics of Measure (Metron) Ancient Greeks recognized that man is but a small part of a greater whole, of an interrelated system of checks and balances, which they knew they must tread with moderation, paying the price when they didn't. It is no coincidence that the protagonist, the hero, in all ancient Greek plays, paid a dear price for hubris, for arrogance, for aiming to reach beyond the limits of humanity. Today, we must remind ourselves that the safety of the world rests upon the realization that our fates are intertwined in a relation that requires balance and equilibrium, a blend of harmony, based on the essence of measure, of metron. Many of the global challenges we face today, whether it is climate change and global warming, or the gap between the haves and the have nots, or the appalling lack of human rights in many regions, even human trafficking, are due to the absence of these qualities

But with few exceptions, thinkers and leaders have always considered the classics a basic tool of analysis, of understanding the sound criteria for decision-making in politics, diplomacy and geostrategy.

I am given hope by the fact that the significance of these great texts has permeated many levels and aspects of our global society today; the great number of non-academic books continuously being published are evidence to me that the classics are no longer simply food for ivory tower intellectuals, but that they are entering the mainstream of society and politics, as food for thought, as the tools for living "an examined life".

Comments

[tt351]

Efharisto Amb. Mallias for this wonderful and insightful post.

[Cogitoe]

Admiral Mallias, I enjoyed your article very much and share your sentiments with one major exception. While President-elect Obama may believe, as do you and I, that true strength comes from "the enduring power of our ideals" I fear he misunderstands many of the core "ideals" that helped re-awaken on our shores the Athenian democracy lost for so many centuries. The U.S. will cease to be a great Republic and the Land of Opportunity if the central guiding principals of self reliance, individual responsibility, a strong work ethic and merit (all traits he himself possesses in great quanity) are eroded by ever greater government intervention and redistribution. A Republic acting like a benevolent monarchy, doling out compassion, rights, preferences and charity to favored groups, is in the end just another form of tyranny.

[tomas0808]

Not true. Look at Norway. Contrary to popular opinion (I've lived there) they are not a country of slackers, which by your theory they should be. They are a strong proud nation, and people willingly do 2 yrs of national service because they know their gov't is not going to send kids off to die to sell helicopters (Vietnam) or make a mint for Haliburton (Iraq).

The 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' ethic has been proved to not work countless times. All it does is leave the door open for the inherent brutality of unregulated capitalism to run wild.

[Cogitoe]

I too love Norway. They are indeed strong, proud and I would add beautiful. The vast majority of Norwegians are industrious and responsible, just as in the U.S. I am in favor of a similar program of national service and hope Obama pushes for one. I also do not believe in lunregulated capitalism. Who today with our financial meltdown could argue against the important role of government regulation. A blame both parties share.

But to your main point, the only thing that has absolutely proved not to work countless times is Socialism and Communism. I am not accusing Obama of being either, just cautioning that a weeking of core principles puts us on the wrong road. I believe we should help people who are trying their hardest to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, just as Obama was helped along his journey and had his merits recognized. But, taking from bootstrap puller "A" to give to person "B" regardless of any personal merit or evidence of bootstrap pulling is unfair and demoralizing to "A" and would eventually weaken the work ethic that built our country. It is one thing to subidize education and job training to give a striving person a better chance, since such expenditures benefit our entire nation through a more capable work force, but quite another thing to just take money from one hard working tax payer to give it to another for any personal desires whatsoever.

[bdaved]

I read someone's statement the other day that Walmart shareholders shouldn't have to subsidize their workers by paying higher wages. Instead, I suppose, the wealth those employees help create should continue to be redistributed upward. I am sick of hearing people talk about redistribution without recognizing that those whose productivity make the wealth of this country possible are too often and by too many not considered worthy of a fair share in return for their labor.

[Cogitoe]

You miss my point. I too believe Walmart should take better care of its employees. I also support a progressive tax code and am fine with Obama's tax increase on those making more than $250,000. The real question is how do you spend and allocate those extra tax dollars. Since even a regulated capitalist system will always ten to create gaps between the haves and the have-nots, redistribution of some kind will need to be one of the legitimate roles of government. But, it matters greatly how that redistribution is accomplished. Using redistributed income to provide better healthcare, education and infrastructure for all can be a societal good. Simply handing out checks is not the answer.

[BehindEnemyLinesinSC]

The real transfer of wealth in this country has been from the individual taxpayer to the largest American corporations and it's been happening for decades through government spending on "defense". Trillions upon trillions of dollars from the bank accounts of working people to the porfolios of "stockholders" in these companies.

Are these corporations (stockholders) the "favored group" you cite? As for doling out "compassion, rights, preferences and charity" I assume you are talking about these same corporations. I agree. We have been too generous.

Compound this robbery from the American people with the fact that a majority of corporations to pay NO income taxes. http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1249465620080812

Charity, indeed.

[Cogitoe]

Stokcholders of defense companies are largely mutual funds and pension funds benefitting Americans of all walks of life and income levels, surely you understand this. There is no Daddy Warbucks here.

More importantly, corporations never pay taxes regardless of what rates you want to apply. Corporate taxes are passed on to consumers through higher prices, or taxpayers in this case as the consumer is the government, or to shareholders through reduced capital gains and lower dividends. You seem to want to attack the ownership society, but that now encompasses the vast majority of Americans, not just the conservative Republicans you despise. People who just want to save for their retirements. You also seem to think corporations are somehow "evil" versus just businesses populated by your neighbors trying to compete in a global market.

[aofh]

After reading the comments to your statement and your replies, I'm confused. I'm not sure that you mean what you really mean; or you may be in the proscess of discovering what you really mean. I think the "core ideals" you refer to are not the core ideals that you and so many of us beleive, but the mythical "core ideals" of such speakers as Ronald Reagan and Milton Friedman. Self-reliance and community are not mutually exclusive as the fabulist would have us believe. Community is the soil that nourishes the individual shoots. When the soil is rich the shoots will prosper. When the soil is poor, even the strongest shoots are weak (or when they are "strong" they are so because they suck up all the nutrients so that nothing else grows around them). Hamilton understood, as you apparently do, the importance of the community investing in individuals. Henry Ford understood the importance and benefits of spreading the wealth. Received wisdom these past 30 years has been that of the fabulist, and we are experiencing the consequences. It seems to me that the problem is confusing and conflating our existential condition with self-reliance as the fabulist do.

[tomas0808]

The repubs consistently blocked all attempts at free education because they required a dumb population to get their 50.1%. How sick is that? Whatever happened to wise leaders?

[rowdyr]

What a unique and insightful posting. Thank you for your positive thoughts for the U.S. in the future and thoughtful summary of our future challenges.

Let's have more postings like this!

[jmbates]

That we are even having the marvelous discussion is another exciting example of the depth of change in culture, leadership, and values that Obama may inspire. His presence may become broader than we expected.

[vicenteduq]

Thank you Mr Ambassador, It is always wonderful to learn new things about Greece, Ancient and Modern. We live through beautiful Historical Times now and can relive the Ancient Times too. !!

I want to say something "Greek" and relate President Elect Obama to Ancient Greece.

Mr Obama likes to spend his time in the gym playing basketball. His sinking a three-pointer during his trip to Kuwait was an Epiphany ( another Greek Word ! ). We all watched on TV how this candidate was very young and powerful, and compared him to the Republican.

This has been compared to Alexander the Great taming the wild horse "Bucephalus" and thus proving to be fit for War. ( Ha Ha Ha ! )

The troops are seen very emotional and loving the Young Barack as one of them. ( another youngster ! )

I collect these videos and Information on the Youngsters Obamamania :

http://milenials.blogspot.com/

Vicente Duque

[kylennblack]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Just last night I was wishing I had a time machine so I could take Obama back in time to meet Pericles. I bet those two would have the most amazing conversations.

[anfractuous]

That's incredible, so did I!

[flamflurm]

Me too! I think BO should change his name to Caius Obamacles Caesar Alexander the Great!

[go]

Thanks, I just forwarded this to a right wing Greek friend of mine. May it awaken the ancient wise and better angels in his blood.

[boitexas]

A great, great post here today. Thank you Mr. Ambassador.

I hadn't thought about the play, "The Trojan Women" in years. Now I've got to go find my copy and read it again!

[alima]

Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. I have always been grateful for having an education, long ago, that set great store by the classics and have wished they could be brought back into our basic curricula. I hope you are right that that they are "entering the mainstream of society and politics, as food for thought, as the tools for living 'an examined life'." Now, how do we help the far right crazies to read, learn and use the tools?

[Arion]

Thank you Ambassador. For all the glories of Shakespeare and Kant, all of Western civilization is merely commentary and footnotes on ancient Greece. Your Roman students, like Cicero, were wise enough to appreciate this. Like you, I am not a classicist, and only stumbled on Hesiod and Homer and all of them in middle life. Thank goodness our founders knew their Greeks. Until the 20th century a foundation in the classics was required of every American schoolboy. Without that knowledge, we become once again barbarians. Know it or not, we all breathe the pure and sparkling air of Athens. To not know what it is we breathe weakens us as individuals and as a clvilizati­on.. We Americans are an arrogant and shortsighted people. No doubt the average American today thinks Thomas Jefferson wrote Pericles's speech. Peril to us. I for one would require the classics to be read again. They inspire at the same time humility and joy.

[Bluedanube]

You are too kind to suggest that after 8 years of a Republican administration the U.S. can still be called a democracy.

[Clavis]

Sadly, most Americans lack the basic education necessary to even approach the Classics.

If you can't find Greece on a map or even spell the word "Greece", you've probably got a lot to learn before you tackle Plato.

[novasys]

Thank You. A great deal of classical wisdom is lost to younger generations, and in particular, the reading of the Greek and Roman classics is very much a lost pursuit. So much is lost from one age to another. And so familiar is the loss of common wisdom due to inadequate, human, socialized education. All should contemplate the classics, all should refer to the great spiritual teaches of record, and all should search the horizon every day for signt and feel of simple wisdom and the appearance of both great spiritual teaching and the re-birth of great human wisdom and qualities of understanding.

[Kordo]

Thank you, Amb. Mallias, for your thoughtful efforts here. Over the last few years, I've noticed an almost coordinated effort aimed at the denigration of the Great Books (to use a high-flown term). This push has coincided neatly with the rise of an American politician who has actually taken these lessons to heart: Barack Obama. If Dubya had bothered to read Xenophon's "Anabasis", he might have been more prepared to deal with the problems arising from a foreign invasion of Mesopotamia. If he'd internalized Socrates/Plato, he'd have realized his own ignorance. He didn't, and we've suffered. Here's hoping we as a nation start paying more attention to the solid data provided by our ancestors.­..