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[Quick set-up: In ancient Athens, there was a practice called Ostracism, wherein citizens would cast ballots, voting which public figure to banish from the city for a number of years. In this case, the votes are being cast between Themistocles and Aristides (popularly nicknamed ‘The just’), two famous Greek figures that strongly disliked each other. Here, Aristides has the perfect opportunity to commit voter’s fraud in his own favor, but still doesn’t do it.]

As therefore, they were writing the names on the sherds [ballots], it is reported that an illiterate clownish fellow, giving Aristides his sherd, supposing him a common citizen, begged him to write Aristides upon it; and he being surprised and asking if Aristides had ever done him any injury, “None at all,” said he, “neither know I the man; but I am tired of hearing him everywhere called the Just.”

Aristides, hearing this, is said to have made no reply, but returned the sherd with his own name inscribed.


Source:

Plutarch, John Dryden, and Arthur Hugh Clough. "Aristides." Plutarch's Lives. New York: Modern Library, 2001. 440. Print.


Further Reading:

Ἀριστείδης (Aristides) / “Aristides the Just”

ὀστρακισμός (Ostracism)

[**Quick set-up: In ancient Athens, there was a practice called Ostracism, wherein citizens would cast ballots, voting which public figure to banish from the city for a number of years. In this case, the votes are being cast between Themistocles and Aristides (popularly nicknamed ‘The just’), two famous Greek figures that strongly disliked each other. Here, Aristides has the perfect opportunity to commit voter’s fraud in his own favor, but still doesn’t do it.**] >As therefore, they were writing the names on the sherds [**ballots**], it is reported that an illiterate clownish fellow, giving Aristides his sherd, supposing him a common citizen, begged him to write *Aristides* upon it; and he being surprised and asking if Aristides had ever done him any injury, “None at all,” said he, “neither know I the man; but I am tired of hearing him everywhere called the Just.” >Aristides, hearing this, is said to have made no reply, but returned the sherd with his own name inscribed. ___________________________ **Source:** Plutarch, John Dryden, and Arthur Hugh Clough. "Aristides." *Plutarch's Lives*. New York: Modern Library, 2001. 440. Print. ___________________________ **Further Reading:** [Ἀριστείδης (Aristides) / “Aristides the Just”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristides) [ὀστρακισμός (Ostracism)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostracism)

2 comments

[–] jidlaph 1 points (+1|-0)

Title error? The text just says the guy was illiterate, not blind.

Definite title error. I noticed later in the day, but felt like it was too late to repost and hoped nobody would notice >.>