Apophthegmata Laconica

Agesipolis, son of Cleombrotus, when somebody said that Philip in a few days had razed Olynthus to the ground, said, By Heaven, he will not build another like it in many years! [*](Cf.Moralia, 40 E and 458 B.)

When someone else remarked that he while king had been made hostage with those in the prime of life, and not their children or their women, he said, That is but just, for it is good that we ourselves should bear the consequences of our own mistakes.

When he wished to send for some dogs from home, and someone said, There is no such export permitted from there, he said, Nor was there of men before this; but now it has been done!

Agesipolis, the son of Pausanias, when the Athenians

Once upon a time the Ephors said to Agis the son of Archidamus, Take the young men and march against the country of this man here. He will himself guide you to its citadel. And how, sirs, said Agis, is it right to entrust so many youths to a man who is betraying his own country? [*](See the note on Moralia, 191 E (2), supra, where the saying is attributed to the younger Agis.)

Being asked what form of instruction was most in vogue in Sparta, he said, Knowledge of how to rule and to be ruled. [*](Cf. the note on 212 C (51), supra. )

He said that the Spartans did not ask how many are the enemy, but where are they? [*](Cf. the note on 190 C (1), supra. )

When, at Mantineia, he was not permitted to risk a decisive battle with the enemy, who outnumbered his men, he said, He who would rule over many must fight with many. [*](Cf. the note on 190 C (2), supra. )

When someone inquired how many Spartans there were, he said, Enough to keep all bad men away. [*](Cf. the note on 190 D (5), supra. )

As he was going about among the walls of the Corinthians and observed that they were high and

When a lecturer said, Speech is the most important thing of all, he retorted, Then if you are silent, you are of no worth at all!

When the Argives, after their defeat, met him again with greater boldness, and he saw that his allies were greatly perturbed, he said, Do not be afraid, men; for when we who are victorious are frightened, what do you think those vanquished by us are doing?

In answer to the ambassador from Abdera, who, after winding up a long discourse, asked him what report he should make to his people at home, he said, Report that during all the time you wanted to speak I listened in silence. [*](Cf.Moralia, 232 E (2), infra. )

When some commended the people of Elis because they were very just in conducting the Olympic games, he said, What great or marvellous accomplishment is it if they practise justice on one day only in four years? [*](Cf. the note on 190 C (3), supra. )

In answer to those who said that some members of the other royal house [*](The Spartans had wo kings and consequently two royal families.) were jealous of him he said, So then, their own ill fortune will make them miserable and, besides that, the good fortune of myself and of my friends.

When someone proffered the advice that they ought to give a passage-way to those of the enemy who were fleeing, [*](This was a part of the tactics of Agesilaus according to Polyaenus, Strategemata, ii. 1. 4. Cf. Xenophon, Hellenica, iv. 2. 22 and iv. 3. 19.) he said, And how, if we do not

When someone brought forward a plan, for the freedom of the Greeks, which, while not lacking idealism, was difficult to put into practice, he said, Your words, my friend, need the backing of power and money. [*](The same idea which is expressed in Moralia, 212 E (56), supra. )

When someone said that Philip would make Greece forbidden ground to them, he said, It is quite enough, my friend, for us to go and come within the confines of our own land. [*](This remark must have been made by the younger Agis (Agis III.))

An ambassador who had come from Perinthus to Sparta made a long harangue; and when he had stopped speaking and asked Agis what report he should make to the people of Perinthus, Agis said, What else except that it was hard for you to stop speaking, and that I said nothing? [*](Cf.Moralia, 232 E (2), infra. )