In one of Aesop’s fables, passengers from a sinking ship suddenly found themselves in the sea. An Athenian among the survivors calls on the gods for help. A man swimming for shore hears the prayer. He turns to the Athenians and says, ‘Pray by all means! But also move your arms!’ Demosthenes intended to be just such wise counselor to Athenians who seemed to have forgotten that the gods help those who help themselves.