If Athens had supported the helot rebellion like the Spartans feared, they would have suffered no additional negative consequences (the Spartans reacted as if the Athenians were intent to support the helots), Athens would have won the Peloponnesian War in advance by ethical means, and the unrivaled democratic empire would have been an uncompromised example to history.
"It is a law of nature for the greater to dominate over the lesser"
THEN DO IT
BECOME GREATER, NOBLER, FREER THAN YOUR RIVALS
Look upon your polis and fall in love with her.