I think that we ought to think a little bit longer

在假定自己的体制是唯一
before we assume our system is the only way

可以实行民主权利的方式之前
one can think about conducting a democracy.

我们应该多加思考一些
But to get at how the Athenians

但是雅典人究竟
coped with this problem

是如何应对这个问题的
the assembly itself was a far less unwieldy or incompetent body than

雅典议会本身并非是一个冗余而低效的机构
is generally assumed by its critics

这是批评家们的普遍看法
and that you might ordinarily think

你有可能会理所当然地想
would be the case if you've got five or six thousand people

有可能会有个案件需要五千或六千人
out there trying to make a decision.

来做出某个裁决
Think of this,if an Athenian citizen attended

试想一个雅典人可出席的会议次数
no more than half the minimum number of sessions held each year,

至少是参加一般年会的次数