Apophthegmata Laconica

Damonidas, being assigned to the last place in the chorus by the director, exclaimed, Good! You have discovered, sir, how this place which is without honour may be made a place of honour. [*](See the note on Moralia, 191 F, supra. )

Damis, with reference to the instructions sent from Alexander that they should pass a formal vote deifying him, said, We concede to Alexander that, if he so wishes, he may be called a god. [*](Cf. Aelian, Varia Historia, ii. 19.)

When Philip invaded the Peloponnesus, and someone said, There is danger that the Spartans may meet a dire fate if they do not make terms with the invader, Damindas exclaimed,You poor womanish thing! What dire fate could be ours if we have no fear of death?

Dercylidas, when Pyrrhus had his army near Sparta,[*](In 272 B.C.) was sent to him as ambassador; and when Pyrrhus stated that they must receive their king Cleonymus, or they would find out that they were no braver than any of the rest, Dercylidas interrupted to say, If this man is a god, we do not fear him, for we are guilty of no wrong; but if he is a man, he is surely not superior to us.