Apophthegmata Laconica

When someone said, Why have you not killed off the people of Argos who wage war against you so often? he said, Oh, we would not kill them off, for we want to have some trainers for our young men.

When somebody inquired of him why Spartans do not dedicate to the gods the spoils from their enemies, he said, Because they are taken from cowards. [*](Cf.Moralia, 224 F (4), infra. )

Cleomenes, the son of Cleombrotus, when someone offered him fighting cocks and said that they would die fighting for victory, said, Well then, give me some of those that kill them, for those are better than these. [*](Cf. the note on Moralia, 191 F, supra. )

Labotas, when someone spoke at very great length, said, Why, pray, such a big introduction to a small subject? For proportionate to the topic should be the words you use. [*](Cf. the note on Moralia, 208 C (3), supra. )