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).)

He was so frugal in his manner of living that once, when he was invited to dinner by a neighbour, and found there an elaborate display of cake and

When the cook rendered his accounts to Epameinondas and his fellow-officers of the expenses for several days, Epameinondas showed indignation only at the great amount of olive oil. As his fellowofficers expressed their surprise, he said it was not the matter of expense that worried him, but that he had taken into his body so much oil.

While the city was keeping holiday, and all were busy with drinking and social enjoyment, Epameinondas, as he was walking along unwashed and absorbed in thought, met one of his intimate friends, who inquired in surprise why it was that he alone was going about in that state. So that all of you, said he, may get drunk and have a holiday. [*](Cf. Themistius, Oration, vii. 88 C.)

A worthless fellow, who was guilty of one of the minor offences, he would not let off at the request of Pelopidas, but, when the man’s mistress pleaded for him, he let him off, saying that such favours may properly be received by strumpets, but not by generals. [*](Cf. Moralia, 808 E.)

When the Spartans threatened an invasion, and oracles were reported to the Thebans, of which some told of defeat and others of victory, he ordered that these be placed at the right of the speakers’ platform, and those at the left. When they had all been so placed, he arose and said, If you are willing to obey your officers, and come to close quarters with the enemy, these are the oracles for you, and he pointed to those of good omen; but if you are going to play the cowards in the face of danger, then those, and he glanced at those of ill omen. [*]( )

On another occasion, when he was leading his troops against the enemy, there came a thunderstroke, and, when those about him inquired what he thought the god meant to signify by this, he replied, That the enemy have been thunder-struck out of all sense because, when such places as those are near at hand, they pitch their camp in places such as these. [*](Cf. Polyaenus, Strategemata, ii. 3. 3.)

He used to say that of all the fair and goodly fortune that had fallen to his lot the thing that gave him the greatest gratification was that his victory over the Spartans at Leuctra came while his father and mother were still living. [*](Cf. Moralia, 786 D and 1098 B, and Plutarch’s Life of Coriolanus, chap. iv. (215 C).)

It was his habit to appear at all times with a well-groomed body and a cheerful countenance, but on the day after that battle he went forth unwashed and with a look of dejection. When his friends asked if anything distressing had befallen him, he said, Nothing; but yesterday I found myself feeling a pride greater than is well. Therefore to-day I am chastising my immoderate indulgence in rejoicing.

Knowing that the Spartans were wont to conceal such calamities as this, and wishing to bring out clearly the magnitude of their disaster, he did not grant them leave to remove their dead all together, but separately by cities, so that it was seen that the Spartan dead numbered over a thousand. [*](The story is told with slightly more details by Pausanias, ix. 13. 11 and 12.)

When Jason, monarch of Thessaly, arrived at Thebes as an ally, he sent two thousand pieces of gold to Epameinondas, who was then sadly in want. Epameinondas did not take the money, but with a

On a later occasion, when the king of the Persians sent twenty-five thousand pounds to him, he assailed Diomedon bitterly because he had made such a long voyage to corrupt Epameinondas; and he bade him say to the king that if the king should hold views conducive to the good of the Thebans, he should have Epameinondas as his friend for nothing; but if the reverse, then as his enemy. [*](Cf. Cornelius Nepos, Epaminondas, xv. 4, where the same story is told in more words, and Aelian, Varia Historia, v. 5, where the fact is recorded in very few words.)

When the Argives entered the Theban alliance, [*](In 370 B.C.) ambassadors of the Athenians arrived at Arcadia and accused both nations; and when Callistratus, the chief speaker, held up Orestes and Oedipus as a reproach to their respective cities, Epameinondas, rising to reply, said, We admit that we have had a parricide among us, and the Argives a matricide; but we expelled from our land those who did these deeds, and the Athenians received them ί [*](Cf. Moralia, 810 F, and Cornelius Nepos, Epaminondas, xv. 6. 1-3.)

When the Spartans accused the Thebans of a long list of serious offences, he retorted, These Thebans, however, have put a stop to your brevity of speech ! [*](Cf. Moralia, 545 A.)

When the Athenians took as a friend Alexander, the despot of Pherae, who was an enemy of the Thebans, and he promised to supply the Athenians with meat to be sold at a penny a pound, Epameinondas said, But we will supply them with

The Boeotians, relaxed by leisure, he was always desirous of keeping continually under arms, and whenever he was chosen Governor of Boeotia he used to urge his advice upon the people, saying, Bethink yourselves once more, men, for, if I am general, you will have to serve in my army. And he used to call their country, which was flat and exposed, the dancing-floor of War, [*](Cf. Plutarch’s Life of Marcellus, chap. xxi. (310 B), where two other picturesque expressions of similar meaning are quoted.) intimating that they could not hold their power over it if they did not keep a grip on the handles of their shields.

Chabrias, in the vicinity of Corinth, having struck down some few Thebans whose eagerness led them to carry the fighting to the foot of the walls, set up a trophy. [*](Cf. Diodorus, xv. 69.) Epameinondas, ridiculing it, said, In that place should stand, not a trophy, but a Hecate; for it was in keeping to set up an image of Hecate, as they used to do, at the meeting of three ways in front of the gates.

When somebody reported that the Athenians had sent an army, decked out with novel equipment, into the Peloponnesus, he said, Why should Antigenidas cry if Tellen has a new flute or two ? (Tellen was the worst of flute-players, and Antigenidas the best. [*](There are many references to the skill of Antigenidas; it must suffice here to refer only to Moralia, 335 A.))