Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata

Being called upon to decide a suit between two knaves, he ordered the one to flee from Macedonia, and the other to pursue him.

When he was about to pitch his camp in an excellent place, he learned that there was no grass for the pack-animals. What a life is ours, he said, if we must live to suit the convenience of the asses ! [*](Cf. Moralia, 790 B; also Eunapius, Frag. 56 in Dindorf, Historici Graeci Minores, i. p. 249.)

When he was desirous of capturing a certain stronghold, his scouts reported that it was altogether difficult and quite impregnable, whereupon he asked

When the men associated with Lasthenes, the Olynthian, complained with indignation because some of Philip’s associates called them traitors, [*](Cf. Moralia, 97 D.) he said that the Macedonians are by nature a rough and rustic people who call a spade a spade. [*](A reference to a line from an unknown comic poet quoted by Lucian, Iupiter Tragoedus, 32. Cf. also Lucian, Historia quomodo conscribenda sit, 41, and Kock, Com. Att. Frag. iii. p. 451, Adespota no. 227.)

He recommended to his son that he associate with the Macedonians so as to win their favour, and thus acquire for himself influence with the masses while another was reigning and while it was possible for him to be humane. [*](Cf. Moralia, 806 B, Cicero, De Officiis, ii. 14 (48). )

He also advised him that, among the men of influence in the cities, he should make friends of both the good and the bad, and that later he should use the former and abuse the latter.

Philon [*](Probably the man mentioned by Demosthenes, Oration xix. 140 (p. 384).) the Theban had been his benefactor and host during the time he spent as a hostage in Thebes, but later would not accept any gift from him; whereupon Philip said to him, Do not deprive me of my invincibility by letting me be outdone in benefactions and favours.

On a time when many prisoners had been taken, Philip was overseeing their sale, sitting with his tunic pulled up in an unseemly way. So one of the men who were being sold cried out, Spare me, Philip, for I am a friend of your father’s. And when Philip askeds Where, sirrah, and how carne you to be such ? the man said, I wish to tell you privately, if I may come near you. And when he

Once when he was on the march, and was invited to dinner by a man of the land, he took a good many persons with him; and when he saw that his host was much perturbed, since the preparations that had been made were inadequate, he sent word in advance to each of his friends , and told them to leave room for cake. They took his advice and, expecting more to follow, did not eat much, and thus there was enough for all. [*](The story is repeated in Moralia, 123 D and 707 B.)

When Hipparchus of Euboea died, [*](Hipparchus, with two others, was set up by Philip as tyrant in Eretria about 343 B.C. See Demosthenes, Oration, ix. 58 (p. 125), and Oration xviii. 295 (p. 324).) it was plain that Philip took it much to heart; and when somebody remarked, But, as a matter of fact, his death has come in fullness of time, Philip said, Yes, in fullness of time for him, it is true, but swiftly for me, for he came to his end too soon to receive from me, as he ought, favours worthy of our friendship.

Learning that Alexander complained against him because he was having children by other women besides his wife, he said, Well then, if you have many competitors for the kingdom, prove yourself honourable and good, so that you may obtain the kingdom not because of me, but because of yourself. He bade Alexander give heed to Aristotle, and study philosophy, so that, as he said, you may not do a great many things of the sort that I am sorry to have done. [*](Cf. Plutarch’s Life of Alexander, chap. ix. (669 A).)

He appointed one of Antipater’s friends to the position of judge, but later, on learning that the man dyed his beard and hair, he removed him, at the same [*]( )

While he was hearing the case of Machaetas, he was near falling asleep, and did not give full attention to the rights of the case, but decided against Machaetas. And when Machaetas exclaimed that he appealed from the decision, Philip, thoroughly enraged, said, To whom ? And Machaetas replied, To you yourself, Your Majesty, if you will listen awake and attentive. At the time Philip merely ended the sitting, but when he had gained more control of himself and realized that Machaetas was treated unfairly, he did not reverse his decision, but satisfied the judgement with his own money. [*](Of an old woman in Stobaeus, Florilegium, xiii. 29 (quoted from Serenus) and Valerius Maximus, vi. 2, ext. 1; in the latter place is the more familiar appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober. )

When Harpalus, acting in behalf of his kinsman and intimate friend Crates, who was under condemnation for wrongdoing, proposed as a fair solution that Crates should pay the fine, but be absolved from the adverse judgement so that he should not be subject to reproach, Philip said, It is better that the man himself, rather than that we because of him, should be ill spoken of.

When his friends were indignant because the people of the Peloponnesus hissed him at the Olympic games, although they had been treated well, he said, Well, what if they should be treated ill! [*](Cf. Moralia, 143 F and 457 F. A similar remark of Pausanias is quoted in Moralia, 230 D.)

Once on a campaign he slept for an unusually long time, and later, when he arose, he said, I slept safely, for Antipater was awake. [*](Cf. Athenaeus, p. 435 D.)

On another occasion when he was asleep in the

When he desired to correct a harp-player at dinner, and to discuss the playing of this instrument, the harp-player said, God forbid, Your Majesty, that you should ever fall so low as to have a better knowledge of these matters than I. [*](The story is found also in Moralia, 67 F, 334 D, and 634 D.)

At a time when he was at odds with Olympias, his wife, and with his son, Demaratus of Corinth arrived, and Philip inquired of him how the Greeks were feeling towards one another. And Demaratus said, Much right have you to talk about the harmony of the Greeks when the dearest of your own household feel so towards you ! Philip, taking the thought to heart, ceased from his anger, and became reconciled with them. [*](Cf. Moralia, 70 B (which omits the conclusion) and Plutarch’s Life of Alexander, chap. ix. (669 C).)

When a poor old woman insisted that her case should be heard before him, and often caused him annoyance, he said he had no time to spare, whereupon she burst out, Then give up being king. Philip, amazed at her words, proceeded at once to hear not only her case but those of the others. [*](The story is told also in Plutarch’s Life of Demetrius, chap. xlii. (909 C). Stobaeus, Florilegium, xiii. 28, quotes Serenus, who states that a peasant made this remark to Antipater.)