Do you agree or disagree with this statement The Athenians brought the Peloponnesian War on themselves

By turning the anti-Persian league into an empire whose resources Athens progressively diverted to its building programme and bloated public service, Athens benefited greatly, but upset the Peloponnesian city-states. Athens continued to apply pressure and intervene in disputes between the cities, going some steps too far culminating in trying to ruin Megara.

The Peloponnesian cities appealed to their leading city Sparta which asked Athens to stop. Athens, confident of its walls and dominant navy, refused and Sparta reluctantly declared war.

Two interesting tales:

1. When a Spartan delegation made a final appeal to Athens to lift its ban on Megara, the Athenians pointed to the decree of their assembly which required the ban. The Spartans said ‘turn it to face the wall’ in an effort to resolve the impasse.

2. A contemporary poem laid the cause of the war on Pericles bringing on the war to gratify his girlfriend ‘that mad bitch Aspasia’ who was angry that some Megarians had kidnapped two of the prostitutes she ran.