Apophthegmata Laconica

Plutarch

Plutarch. Moralia, Vol. III. Babbitt, Frank Cole, translator. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1931 (printing).

When a certain musician made a great hit, they asked Eudamidas what he thought of the man, and he replied, He has great power to charm in a trifling matter. [*]( )

When someone praised Athens, he said And who could praise that city deservedly, towards which nobody has ever felt any affection for having been made a better man by it?

When a man from Argos said that the Spartans became more unscrupulous on going abroad and being out of the control of their long-established laws, [*](Lions at home, but foxes abroad was proverbial. Cf. Plutarch’s Comparison of Lysander and Sulla, chap. iii. (476 E).) he said, But you, when you come to Sparta, do not become worse, but better.

When Alexander caused proclamation to be made at Olympia that all exiles might return to their own land, [*](In 323 B.C. Cf. Diodorus, xviii. 8.) save only the Thebans, Eudamidas said, The proclamation for you, men of Thebes, is unfortunate, but very complimentary; for it is you only that Alexander fears.

Being asked for what purpose they offered sacrifice to the Muses before hazardous ventures, he said, So that our deeds may find good words. [*](Cf.Moralia, 238 B, infra; Plutarch’s Life of Lycurgus, chap. xxi. (53 D).)

Eurycratidas, the son of Anaxandridas, when someone inquired why the Ephors try cases involving contracts [*](Cf. Aristotle, Politics, iii. 1, 10 (1275 b).) each day, said, So that also amid our enemies we may trust one another.

When someone inquired why they kept the laws in regard to bravery unwritten, and did not have

them written down and thus give them to the young men to read, Zeuxidamus said, Because the young ought to accustom themselves to deeds of manly valour, a better thing than to apply their mind to writings.

When a certain Aetolian asserted that, for those who are able to play the part of real men, war is better than peace, Zeuxidamus said, By Heaven, no; but for such men death is better than life.