Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata

While Epameinondas the Theban was general, panic never fell upon his troops.

He used to say that the most beautiful death was death in war.

He used to declare that the heavy-armed soldier ought to have his body trained not only by athletic exercises but by military drill as well. [*](Cf. Cornelius Nepos, Epaminondas, xv. 2. 4 and 5.) For this reason he always showed a repugnance towards fat men, and one such man he expelled from the army, saying that three or four shields would scarce serve to protect his belly, because of which he could not see a thing below it. [*](Cf. Plutarch’s Life of M. Cato, chap. ix. (341 C).)