Apophthegmata Laconica

In the war against Philip, when some proffered the advice that they ought to engage him in battle at a good distance from their own land, [*](The policy of Demosthenes (e.g. Olynthiac i. ad fin.).) Archidamus said, No, that is not what we ought to look to, but where, in fighting, we shall be superior to the enemy.

In answer to those who commended him when he had been victorious in battle [*](The tearless battle in 368 B.C. described by Xenophon, Hellenica, vii. 1. 28-32. Cf. Plutarch’s Life of Agesilaus ) against the Arcadians, he said, It would have been better if we had vanquished them by intelligence rather than by strength.

When he invaded Arcadia, he learned that the Eleans were supporting the Arcadians, and so he sent this letter to them: Archidamus to the Eleans. Quiet is a good thing. [*](The saying is attributed to Periander by Diogenes Laertius, i. 97.)

In the Peloponnesian war, when his allies sought to know how much money would be sufficient, and said it was only fair that he set a limit to their contributions, he said, War does not feed on fixed rations. [*](Cf. the note on Moralia, 190 A, supra. The saying plainly belongs to Archidamus II. (218 C, supra), who lived at the time of the Peloponnesian war. See Plutarch’s Life of Cleomenes, chap. xxvii. (817 E).)