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).)

When he saw the missile shot by a catapult, which had been brought then for the first time from Sicily, he exclaimed, Great Heavens! man’s valour is no more! [*](Cf.Moralia, 191 D, supra. )

When the Greeks were not willing to take his advice and break their agreements with Antipater [*](Either Antipater (Wyttenbach’s certain emendation) or Antigonus (MSS.) is too late for Archidamus III., who died in 338 B.C.) and Craterus the Macedonian, and be free, because of a feeling that the Spartans would be harsher than the Macedonians, he said, A sheep or a goat bleats always in the same way, but a man talks in a great variety of ways until he accomplishes what he has set his mind upon.

When someone said to Astycratidas, after the defeat of Agis their king in the battle against Antipater in the vicinity of Megalopolis, What will you do, men of Sparta? Will you be subject to the Macedonians? he said, What! Is there any way in which Antipater can forbid us to die fighting for Sparta?

Bias, caught in an ambush by Iphicrates the Athenian general, and asked by his soldiers what was to be done, said, What else except for you to save your lives and for me to die fighting?