Apophthegmata Laconica

Hearing a philosopher discoursing to the effect that the wise man is the only good general, he said, The speech is admirable, but the speaker is not to be trusted; for he has never been amid the blare of trumpets. [*](Cf. the note on Moralia, 192 A, supra. )

Xenocrates had been expounding his theme, and had just reached the stopping-point when Eudamidas arrived. One of the persons with him remarked, Just when we arrive he comes to the stopping-point. Quite properly so, said Eudamidas, if he has already said all he wanted to say. It would have been nice to hear him, said the other. Indeed, said Eudamidas, and if we came to a man who had just dined, should we insist that he eat another dinner?