Warning

When Philip of Macedonia threatened to send his forces to crush the Greek city-states, the Greeks failed to organize a united defense. Demosthenes, an Athenian statesman, however, warned of the danger in Philippies, a series of speeches he made to the Assembly in Athens in 341 BC. He told them of their indifferences and self-centeredness and challenged them to unify and fight for freedom as their ancestors had done.

Demosthenes placed the blame of Philip's successes in conquering Greece on the competitiveness the city-states have with one another. Demonsthenes also explained that Greece, as a whole, is too big for Philip to conquer, but the small city-states that the Greeks created for themselves and their unwillingness to help their neighbor was the secret of Philip ad the success he often met.

By referring the ancient Greeks, who fought together for a common cause, Demosthenes helped the Athenians visualize the wonders and benefits bonding together for a greater good would bring. He metophorically compared the nation to a vessal. Demosthenes tried to warn the Greeks that if they did not prepare for Philip as sailors prepare a ship for a journey, when the storm that was Philip hit, it would be too late to act. He wanted the Athenians to prepare for Philip while they "are safe, blessed with a very great city, ample advantages, and the fairest reputation" instead of struggling to keep afloat when the bulk of the storm hit. Evidently the Athenians paid little heed to his prophetic words because Philip eventually conquered Athens and many of the other city-states.

If Demosthenes were to address the United Nations today, his words remain applicable. People need to ban together because there is strength in numbers. The way to win a war is through planning, communication, and organization, not by looking out for one person or small group of people. Demosthenes could be addressing the United Nations about the modern topic of terrorism and he would be correct in explaining the way to beat terrorists is to join together for the cause instead of acting alone when one's own nation was attacked.

Demosthenes warned of the danger the competiveness of the Athenians wil bring them as an attempt to warn and save the city-state of Athens and also to keep Greece ruled by the Greeks. Although Demosthenes warned the Athenians and provided them with possible solutions to their problem, the people of Athens were eventually caonquered by Philip of Macedonia. His words rang as true in 341 BC. as they do today.