Apophthegmata Laconica

Plutarch

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

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

fate rests not with one man. For, if I am killed, my country will not be impaired in any way; but if I yield to the enemy, it will be. [*](Cf. Plutarch’s Life of Pelopidas, chap. ii. (177 D).) And so, after appointing Cleander to take his place as commander, he put forth without delay for the naval engagement, and met his death in the battle.