Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata

Lysimachus was overpowered by Dromichaetas in Thrace, and because of thirst surrendered himself and his army [*](In 292 B.C.); and when he drank after he had been made a prisoner, he said, My God, for what a little pleasure have I made myself a slave from being a king ! [*](The story is repeated with slight variations in Moralia, 126 E and 555 D; the capture of Lysimachus is recorded in Plutarch’s Life of Demetrius, chap. xxxix. (908 B); Polyaenus, Strategemata, vii. 25; Diodorus, xxi. 12.)

To Philippides the comic poet who was his friend and intimate he said, What of mine shall I share

Antipater, hearing of the death of Parmenio at the hands of Alexander, said, If Parmenio plotted against Alexander, who is to be trusted ? And if he did not, what is to be done ?

Of Demades the orator, who had already become an old man, he said that he was like an animal which had been eaten at a sacrificial feast; there was left only the belly and the tongue. [*](Cf. Moralia, 525 C and Plutarch’s Life of Phocion, chap. i. (741 E). Pytheas (quoted in Athenaeus, 44 F) speaks of Demades’ protruding belly and ranting tongue.)

Antiochus the Third wrote to the cities that, if he should write ordering anything to be done contrary to the laws, they should pay no attention, assuming that he had acted in ignorance.