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Alexander
of Macedon's Oath at Opis, 324 BC:
"I
wish all of you, now that the wars are coming to an end, to live happily,
in peace. All mortals from now on will live like one people, united, and
peacefully working towards a common prosperity.
You should regard
the whole world as your own country with common laws, a country where the
best and the brightest rule, regardless of race.
I do not separate
people, as do the narrow-minded, into Greeks and barbarians. I am not interested
in the origin or race of citizens. I only distinguish them on the basis
of their virtue. For me each good foreigner is a Greek and each bad Greek
is worse than a barbarian.
If ever differences
arose, never resort to arms, but resolve them peacefully. If need
be, I will serve as your arbitrator. Do not consider God as a dictatorial
Ruler, but as Father of all, so that your conduct would resemble the cohabitation
of siblings within one family.
On my part, I consider
all of you equal, white or dark, and I would like you not to be only plain
subjects of my Commonwealth, but all shareholders, all partners.
To the extent it is
in my power, I shall try to accomplish all that I promise. Keep the oath
we are taking with the libation tonight like a Contract of Love" |
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