The story goes that when the Athenian politician Aristides had been proposed for ostracism an illiterate voter approached Aristides for help, not knowing who he was. Aristides was somewhat surprised at being asked to write his own name on the sherd, and asked why the voter wanted to ostracise Aristides. Had Aristides ever done him any harm? "Oh no," the voter replied, "I'm just sick of everybody saying how fair and just he is." Aristides then dutifully wrote his own name on the ostrakon.

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