Demosthenes was admitted to his () as a citizen with full rights probably in 366 BC, and he soon demonstrated an interest in politics. In 363 and 359 BC, he assumed the office of the trierarch, being responsible for the outfitting and maintenance of a trireme.A. W. Pickard, Demosthenes and the Last Days of Greek Freedom, xiv–xv. He was among the first ever volunteer trierarchs in 357 BC, sharing the expenses of a ship called Dawn, for which the public inscription still survives.Packard Humanities Institute, IG Π2 1612.301-10 * H. Yunis, Demosthenes: On the Crown, 167. In 348 BC, he became a choregos, paying the expenses of a theatrical production.S. Usher, Greek Oratory, 226. "While the vessel is safe, whether it be a large or a small one, then is the time for sailor and helmsman and everyone in his turn to show his zeal and to take care that it is not capsized by anyone's malice or inadvertence; but when the sea has overwhelmed it, zeal is useless." Demosthenes (Third Philippic, 69)—The orator warned his countrymen of the disasters Athens would suffer, if they continued to remain idle and indifferent to the challenges of their times. Between 355 and 351 BC, Demosthenes continued practising law privately while he was becoming increasingly interested in public affairs. During this period, he wrote Against Androtion and Against Leptines, two fierce attacks on individuals who attempted to repeal certain tax exemptions.E. M. Burke, "The Early Political Speeches of Demosthenes", 177–178. In Against Timocrates and Against Aristocrates, he advocated eliminating corruption.E. Badian, "The Road to Prominence", 29–30. All these speeches, which offer early glimpses of his general principles on foreign policy, such as the importance of the navy, of alliances and of national honour,J. De Romilly, A Short History of Greek Literature, 116–117. are prosecutions (, ) against individuals accused of illegally proposing legislative texts.D. M. MacDowell, Demosthenes the Orator, ch. 7 (pr.).
Demosthenes was admitted to his () as a citizen with full rights probably in 366 BC, and he soon demonstrated an interest in politics. In 363 and 359 BC, he assumed the office of the trierarch, being responsible for the outfitting and maintenance of a trireme.A. W. Pickard, Demosthenes and the Last Days of Greek Freedom, xiv–xv He was among the first ever volunteer trierarchs in 357 BC, sharing the expenses of a ship called Dawn, for which the public inscription still survives.Packard Humanities Institute, IG Π2 1612.301-10 * H. Yunis, Demosthenes: On the Crown, 167. In 348 BC, he became a choregos, paying the expenses of a theatrical production.S. Usher, Greek Oratory, 226. "While the vessel is safe, whether it be a large or a small one, then is the time for sailor and helmsman and everyone in his turn to show his zeal and to take care that it is not capsized by anyone's malice or ina,dvertence; but when the sea has overwhelmed it, zeal is useless." Demosthenes (Third Philippic, 69)—The orator warned his countrymen of the disasters Athens would suffer, if they continued to remain idle and indifferent to the challenges of their times. Between 355 and 351 BC, Demosthenes continued practising law privately while he was becoming increasingly interested in public affairs. During this period, he wrote Against Androtion and Against Leptines, two fierce attacks on individuals who attempted to repeal certain tax exemptions.E. M. Burke, "The Early Political Speeches of Demosthenes", 177–178. In Against Timocrates and Against Aristocrates he advocated eliminating corruption.E. Badian, "The Road to Prominence", 29–30. All these speeches, which offer early glimpses of his general principles on foreign policy, such as the importance of the navy, of alliances and of national honour,J. De Romilly, A Short History of Greek Literature, 116–117. are prosecutions (, ) against individuals accused of illegally proposing legislative texts.D. M. MacDowell, Demosthenes the Orator, ch. 7 (pr.).