'Demosthenes, philosopher: "Among our calculations, the most dangerous are those we call illusions"'

Life is full of complex moments and challenges that one must overcome. Hope can be an important factor in facing such situations, but one must be careful and know how to draw the line between reason and illusion , since the perception of reality can be altered. A line of thought shared by Demosthenes , one of the best-known philosophers in history.

He who was an Athenian orator and politician of ancient Greece , among his many notable phrases, once said: “Among our calculations, the most dangerous are those we call illusions.” A phrase with which he establishes the internal debate between reason and illusion.

Self-deception and the false perception of optimism

In this reflection, Demosthenes sets out a clear and direct warning about the fact that important decisions are based on unrealistic desires , on illusions and false hopes. The best method, according to the philosopher, is for your way of acting to adhere to reality, without expectations that go beyond what is normal.

Self-deception, according to the Greek philosopher, is one of the obstacles a person may face, since it can cause one to lose sight of what one has before them and of what is most likely to happen. In fact, in his work ‘Olynthiacs’, he already spoke about this: “ Nothing is as easy as deceiving oneself ; for what each man desires, that is what he believes to be true”.

According to Demosthenes' idea, when the variable of illusion is introduced into a calculation, logic, strategy, and foresight are lost. All reason is lost because of a sensitive and subjective factor that does not always provide a valid and real explanation for what is around us. Thinking that certain things will happen out of pure optimism is a problem when reality strikes and shows another side of life.