Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata

To the man who urged him to create a democracy in the State his answer was, Do you first create a democracy in your own house. [*](Repeated in Moralia, 155 D, 22 D, and Plutarch’s Life of Lycurgus, chap. xix. (52 A).)

He ordered that the people build their houses with saw and axe only; for he knew that men are ashamed to bring into simple houses costly vessels, rugs, and tables. [*](Cf. Moralia, 227 B, infra, and Life of Lycurgus, chap. xiii. (47 B).)

He prohibited boxing and prize-fighting so that the people might not even in sport get the habit of crying off. [*](See Moralia, 228 D, infra, and cf. Life of Lycurgus, chap. xix. (52 A), and Seneca, De Beneficiis, v. 3.)

He prohibited making war upon the same people many times, so that they should not make their opponents too belligerent. And it is a fact that years later, when Agesilaus was wounded, Antalcidas said of him that he was getting a beautiful return from the Thebans for the lessons he had taught them in habituating and teaching them to make war against their will. [*](Cf. Moralia, 213 F, 217 E, 227 C, infra; Plutarch’s Life of Lycurgus, chap. xiii. (47 D); Life of Pelopidas, chap. xv. (285 D); Life of Agesilaus, chap. xxvi. (610 D); Polyaenus, Strategemata, i. 16. 2.)

Charillus the king, being asked why Lycurgus enacted so few laws, replied that people who used few words had no need of many laws. [*](Cf. Moralia, 232 B, infra, and Plutarch’s Life of Lycurgus, chap. xx. (52 D).)

When one of the helots conducted himself rather boldly towards him, he said, By Heaven, I would kill you if I were not angry. [*](Cf. Moralia, 232 D, infra.)

In answer to the man who inquired why he and the rest wore their hair long, he said that of all ornaments this was the least expensive. [*](Attributed to Nicander, Moralia, 230 B, and to Agesilaus by Stobaeus, Florilegium, lxv. 10.)

Teleclus the king answered his brother, who complained against the citizens because they conducted themselves with less consideration towards him than towards the king, by saying, The reason is that you do not know how to submit to injustice. [*](Repeated in Moralia, 232 B, infra; cf. also the similar remark of Chilon reported in Diogenes Laertius, i. 68, and the general statement in Menander’s Farmer, Kock, Com. Att. Frag. iii. p. 29, Menander no. 95; or Allinson’s Menander in L.C.L., p. 338.)

When Theopompus was in a certain city, a man pointed out the wall to him and inquired if it seemed to him to be beautiful and high, and he replied, It isn’t a dwelling-place for women, is it ? [*](Cf. Moralia, 221 F. The remark in varied form is attributed to Agesilaus in Moralia, 212 E; to Agis in Moralia, 215 D; and to Panthoidas in Moralia, 230 C; and to an unnamed Spartan by Valerius Maximus, iii. 7, ext. 8.)

When the allies said in the Peloponnesian war it was only right that Archidamus set a limit to their contributions, he said, War does not feed on fixed rations. [*](Repeated in Moralia, 219 A, and in Plutarch’s Life of Crassus, chap. ii. (544 B); and Life of Cleomenes, chap. xxvii. (817 E). In his Life of Demosthenes, chap. xvii. (853 E), the saying is put in the mouth of Crobylus (i.e. Hegisippus the Athenian orator). See the note on Moralia, 187 E, supra. )

Brasidas caught a mouse among some dry figs, and, getting bitten, let it go. Then, turning to those who were present, he said, There is nothing so small that it cannot save its life, if it has the courage to defend itself against those who would lay hand on it. [*](Repeated in Moralia, 79 E and 219 C, and with some variation, 208 F.)

In a battle he was wounded by a spear which pierced his shield, and, pulling the weapon out of the wound, with this very spear he slew his foe. Asked how he got his wound, he said, ’twas when my shield turned traitor. [*](Cf. Moralia, 219 C, infra, and 548 B.)