Thucydides' Speech to the Athenians

In the speech, he shows the cocky, self-assurance that is typical of Thucydides' portrayal of him. The speech is filled with criticism of the Athenian people, and of certain elements of imperialistic democratic ideology. His distaste for intellectualism contrasts poignantly with the praise of deliberation and debate that we saw in Pericles' funeral oration.