Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata

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.)