Apophthegmata Laconica

When he came to Cyrus the Younger at Sardis (who was allied with the Spartans) to get money for his fleet, on the first day he bade them send in word that he wished to have an audience with Cyrus. But when he was told that Cyrus was busy drinking, he said, I will wait till he has finished drinking. And at that time he withdrew, when he realized that it was not possible to meet Cyrus on that day, thus creating the impression that he was somewhat lacking in manners. On the succeeding day, when he was again told that Cyrus was drinking and would not come forth, he said, We must not be so eager to

Being asked what kind of men the lonians were, he said, Poor freemen, but good slaves. [*](Cf. the note on Moralia, 190 F (1), supra. )

When Cyrus sent on money to pay the soldiers, and special presents for himself as a token of friendship, he took the money only and sent back the presents, saying that there was no need of any private friendship between him and Cyrus, but the general friendship which had been contracted with all the Spartans would serve also for him. [*](Cf. Moralia, 213 D (69), supra. )

As he was about to engage in the naval battle at Arginusae, Hermon the pilot said that it would be well to sail away, for the ships of the Athenians were many more in number; but Callicratidas said, And what of that? To flee is a disgrace and an injury to Sparta. No; to stay here, be it death or be it victory, is best. [*](Cf. Xenophon, Hellenica, i. 6. 32; Cicero, De officiis, i. 24 (84).)

As he offered sacrifice before the battle, and heard from the seer that the indications of the omens were victory for the army, but death for its commander, he said, not at all disconcerted, Sparta’s

Cleombrotus, the son of Pausanias, when a man from abroad was disputing with Cleombrotus’s father about excellence, said, My father is a better man than you — until you too have become a father. [*](Cf.Moralia, 227 F (14), infra, and Plutarch’s Life of Lycurgus, chap. xv. (48 C).)