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Ancient Greece also produced a great orator and statesman, Demosthenes (384-322 B.C.).  As a young man, Demosthenes had very weak lungs and could not speak loudly or clearly.  However, he did not let this defeat him; to improve his voice, Demosthenes would go to the ocean, fill his mouth with pebbles, and practice speaking loudly enough for his voice to be heard over the waves!  He went on to give powerful political speeches -- known as the "Phillipics" -- against Philip II of Macedon, once causing the crowd to shout, "Let us take up arms and march!"  But in 338 B.C. Philip of Macedon completely conquered the Greeks at the battle of Chaeronea.  Demosthenes' life later ended in failure when an Athenian revolt against Macedon was unsuccessful.

Ancient Greece also produced a great orator and statesman, Demosthenes (384-322 B.C.).  As a young man, Demosthenes had very weak lungs and could not speak loudly or clearly.  However, he did not let this defeat him; to improve his voice, Demosthenes would go to the ocean, fill his mouth with pebbles, and practice speaking loudly enough for his voice to be heard over the waves!  He went on to give powerful political speeches -- known as the "Phillipics" -- against Philip II of Macedon, once causing the crowd to shout, "Let us take up arms and march!"  But in 338 B.C. Philip of Macedon completely conquered the Greeks at the battle of Chaeronea.  Demosthenes' life later ended in failure when an Athenian revolt against Macedon was unsuccessful.

The Greeks had great philosophical influence.  Two main schools of philosophical thought from the Hellenistic Period were very influential: the Stoics and the Epicureans.   

The Greeks had a tremendous philosophical influence.  Two main schools of philosophical thought from the Hellenistic Period were the Stoics and the Epicureans.   

The Epicureans were founded by Epicurus (341-270 B.C.) in the late fourth century B.C. and did not believe in any divine power.  They did not believe in human ability to know and understand absolute truth, instead teaching that only the senses could be trusted.  They sought pleasure and inner peace, and their teachings later led to justification for excess and indulgence in whatever pleasures one desired.

The Epicureans were founded by Epicurus (341-270 B.C.) in the late fourth century B.C. and did not believe in any divine power.  They did not believe in human ability to know and understand absolute truth, instead teaching that only the senses could be trusted.  They sought pleasure and inner peace, but unfortunately their teachings later led to justification for excess and indulgence.

In contrast, the Stoics — founded by Zeno (333-264 B.C.) in the early third century B.C. — sought to find a sense of divine justice.  They de-emphasized emotion and feelings, teaching that both plain and pleasure should be disregarded.  Instead, cool-headed reason and logic should be used at all times and self-indulgence denied.   

In contrast, the Stoics — founded by Zeno (333-264 B.C.) in the early third century B.C. — sought to find a sense of divine justice.  They de-emphasized emotion and feelings, teaching that both plain and pleasure should be disregarded.  Instead, cool-headed reason and logic should be used at all times and self-indulgence denied.