We will begin with Thucydides’ report of a debate in the Assembly, just before the outbreak of The War. A Spartan embassy came to make certain diplomatic demands of the Athenians, particularly that they should rescind a trade embargo with Megara, a member of the Peloponnesian Alliance. Finally, the last Spartan ambassadors, namely Rhamphias, Melesippius and Agesander, mentioned nothing on the matters mentioned before, but only this:

"The Spartans wish peace to continue, and it would if you were to leave the Greeks independent."

The Athenians, namely the Boulê, called an assembly and submitted the for disscusion and decided to debate and reply to all these demands for once and for all. Many spoke for each side, a few wanting to go to war and others that thought that they should rescind the Megarian deal and not let it interfere with peace. At last came forward Pericles, son of Xanthippus, the leading citizen of the time, and most able whether in speech or in action. His advice was in these terms:

"I maintain the same opinion as always, that we should make no concessions to Sparta, though I know that men who are persuaded to declare war change their minds when they are the midst of war, and allow their judgement to be altered by events. But it is clear to me that I must give you the same advice as before, and those of you who support our common resolution, if we meet with reverse, and if we succeed that you will make no claim to special intelligence, because it often happens that both actions and decisions have quit unexpected results, wherefore things that turn out contrary to our calculations we attribute to Chance." With this introduction, Pericles proceeds to fight a close argument, designed to prove that a concession, even a very small one, would be interpreted as weak and would bring fresh demands from the powerful Spartans; and if Athens should come to war with the Peloponnesian Alliance, the Peloponnesians would not prevail, because of their lack of resources and unity.

"If we were islanders," he said

"Who would be more impregnable? We ought then to think of ourselves as islanders; to resign our land and houses and to guard the sea and the city and not to risk useless battles for Attica, we should lament not the houses and the land but the lives lost, for it is not these things that gain men, but men gain these. If I thought you would do it, I would urge you to ravage them yourselves, to show the Peloponnesians that this will not bring them victory. I have other grounds of confidence, if you will refrain from trying to win more territory; for I am more afraid of our own mistakes than our enemy’s designs."

So, suggesting a firm answer without being definite, Pericles sat down. It was now for the assembly to decide. The Athenians thought that he gave the best advice and voted as he recommended. The Spartan envoys returned home and proved to be the last to come to Athens.