"To him," says Plutarch, "Greece not only owes her preservation, but the Athenians in particular the glory of surpassing their enemies in valour and their allies in moderation." But if fortune gave Eurybiades the nominal command, genius forced Themistocles into the actual pre-eminence.

That extraordinary man was, above all, adapted to his time; and, suited to its necessities, he commanded its fates.
His very fault in the callousness of the moral sentiment, and his unscrupulous regard to expediency, peculiarly aided him in his management of men.

He could appeal to the noblest passions--he could wind himself into the most base.

Where he could not exalt he corrupted, where he could not persuade he intimidated, where he could not intimidate he bribed.

[71] When the intention to retreat became generally circulated, the inhabitants of the northern coast of Euboea (off which the Athenian navy rode) entreated Eurybiades at least to give them time to remove their slaves and children from the vengeance of the barbarian.
Unsuccessful with him, they next sought Themistocles.