'Still, in Crete we say that the battle of Salamis was the salvation of Hellas.' Such is the prevailing opinion.

But I and Megillus say that the battle of Marathon began the deliverance, and that the battle of Plataea completed it; for these battles made men better, whereas the battles of Salamis and Artemisium made them no better.

And we further affirm that mere existence is not the great political good of individuals or states, but the continuance of the best existence.

'Certainly.' Let us then endeavour to follow this principle in colonization and legislation.
And first, let me ask you who are to be the colonists?
May any one come from any city of Crete?
For you would surely not send a general invitation to all Hellas.

Yet I observe that in Crete there are people who have come from Argos and Aegina and other places.