Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata

Agesilaus used to say that the inhabitants of Asia Minor were poor freemen, but good slaves. [*](Cf. Moralia, 213 C infra. The remark is attributed to Callicratidas, Moralia, 222 E, infra. Cf. also the similar sentiment recorded in Herodotus, iv. 142.)

Regarding their custom of calling the king of the Persians the Great King, he said, In what respect is he greater than I, unless he is more upright and self-restrained ? [*](Cf. Moralia, 78 D, 213 C, 545 A; Plutarch’s Life of Agesilaus, chap. xxiii. (608 F); also Xenophon, Agesilaus, 8. 4. A similar remark of Socrates is found in Plato, Gorgias, 470 E.)

When he was questioned about bravery and uprightness and asked which was the better, he said, We have no need of bravery if we are all upright. [*](Cf. Moralia, 213 C, infra, and Plutarch’s Life of Agesilaus, chap. xiii. (608 F).)

When he was about to break camp in haste by night to leave the enemy’s country, and saw his favourite youth, owing to illness, being left behind all in tears, he said, It is hard to be merciful and sensible at the same time. [*](Cf. Moralia, 209 F, infra, and Plutarch’s Life of Agesilaus, chap. xiii. (603 B).)

Menecrates the physician, who was addressed by the title of Zeus, wrote in a letter to him: Menecrates Zeus to King Agesilaus, health and happiness. Agesilaus wrote in reply: King Agesilaus to Menecrates, health and sanity! [*](The story is repeated in Moralia, 213 A, and in Plutarch’s Life of Agesilaus, chap. xxi. (607 E). Aelian, Varia Historia, xii. 51, and Athenaeus, 289 B, say that it was Philip of Macedon who thus replied to Menecrates.)