But while the law secures equal justice to all alike in their private disputes, the claim of excellence is also recognised; and when a citizen is in any way distinguished, he is preferred to the public service, not as a matter of privilege, but the reward of merit.” (The Funeral Oration of Pericles pg.107)
Obama’s quotes, although pulled from different parts of the speech, are in a perfect alignment to the quote of Pericles. Obama first talks about how the American government, if isn't already, to be one hundred percent working of the behalf of the many, and not just one fraction of the american