Apophthegmata Laconica

Plutarch

Plutarch. Moralia, Vol. III. Babbitt, Frank Cole, translator. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1931 (printing).

When one of the Athenians read a memorial oration in praise of those who fell at the hands of the Spartans, he said, What kind of men, then, do you think ours must be who vanquished these? [*](Perhaps the remark of another man named Ariston who lived later.)

Archidamidas, in answer to a man who commended Charillus because he was gentle towards all alike, said, And how could any man be justly commended if he be gentle towards the wicked? [*](Cf.Moralia, 55 E and 537 D.)