Euripides, Suppliant Women

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Theseus says he will first try words -- then force

Herald from Cadmeans: " It is a city which allows no one to trick its people with sweet words, trick them into doing now one thing, now another – into doing things that suit his own purposes. It doesn’t have men whose first speeches are received well but then they destroy everything. And then, what do they do, these men? They lie to hide all the damage they’ve caused and with those lies they escape justice!"

Theseus' response: "There’s no heavier burden for a city to bear than a monarch." "The essence of freedom is in these words: “He who has a good idea for the city let him bring it before its citizens.”"