Power of Respect in Pericles' Leadership of Athens

Respect, it is a very simple gesture; however the individual who chooses to be respectful can gain a lot more in return. This was proven through the success of an Athenian political leader, Pericles, who was known for getting his argument across without offending the listener. The gift of communication was something Pericles learned to use to his own advantage. His well worded speeches can be found on the pages of the History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, where it is clear that his sharp tongue and outspoken personality have played a key role in his political career. Through up rises and down fall Pericles continued to lead Athens and never spoke negatively about his city. His nationalism proved the love he had towards his home and demonstrated to the Athenians his untainted means for governing. Many scholars and authors agree on how phenomenal Pericles’s leadership was, while textbooks even award him the title of “the guiding spirit of Athenian imperialism” (Pomeroy 164). Although his methods are approved today, by refereeing to Plutarch’s work Life of Pericles one might notice that there were many authority figures in Athens who did not appreciate Pericles’s style of governing. Yet this did not discourage him, instead led him to become sturdier and closer to his people. Pericles had democratic views unlike the rest of Ancient Greece; however his unique ways of governing helped him maintain order in the Golden Age of Athens. While the success of a political leader is commonly recognized through the greatness of his achievements, Pericles has also acknowledged the importance of understanding and respecting his people.

The people of Athens were Pericles’s wealth. Being born in a well-off family, to his father Xanthippus...

... middle of paper ...

...ness. And most of all Pericles had great self-respect and was very successful at gaining respect back. All humans want to be treated properly, and Pericles was successful with doing so in his leadership hence why he was such a great political leader.

Works Cited

Plutarch. "The Life of Pericles." The Complete Works of Plutarch. New York: Society of English and French Literature, 1909. Sir Thomas Browne. Web. 06 Nov.2011..

Pomeroy, Sarah B. "Pericles and the Growth of Athenian Democracy." A Brief History of Ancient Greece: Politics, Society, and Culture. New York: Oxford UP, 2009. 164. Print.

Thucydides, Rex Warner, and M. I. Finley. "BOOK TWO: The Policy of Pericles." History of the Peloponnesian War. Harmondsworth, Eng.: Penguin, 1972. 143-64. Print