οἷς πρόθεσίς ἐστιν ἀδικεῖν, παρ' αὐτοῖς οὐδὲ δικαία ἀπολογία ἰσχύει → not even a just excuse means anything to those bent on injustice | the tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny | any excuse will serve a tyrant
middle voice from ἐπί and ἐκτείνω; to stretch (oneself) forward upon: reach forth.
