Apophthegmata Laconica

Pausanias, son of Cleombrotus, at the time when the people of Delos were asserting their rightful claims to the island against the Athenians, and said that according to the law [*](The law seems to have been put into effect (426-425 B.C.) some years after the death of this Pausanias (468 B.C.).) which prevailed among them there were no births and no burials in the island, said, How can this be your native land in which no one of you has ever been born nor shall ever be hereafter? [*](Cf. Thucydides, iii. 104.)

When the exiles were inciting him to lead his army against the Athenians, and saying that, when his name was proclaimed at Olympia, they were the only people who hissed him, he said, What do you think that those who hissed when they were being well treated will do if they are treated ill ? [*](A similar remark is attributed to Philip of Macedon in Moralia, 143 F, 179 A, and 457 F.)

When someone inquired why the Spartans had

In answer to the man who was weak in body, but was urging that they risk a battle against the enemy by both land and sea, he said, Are you willing to strip yourself and show what kind of a man you are — you who advise us to fight?

When some people were amazed at the costliness of the raiment found among the spoils of the barbarians, he said that it would have been better for them to be themselves men of worth than to possess things of worth. [*](Cf. Plato, Laws, 870 B; Cicero, Paradoxa Stoicorum, vi. 1-3 (42-52). )

After the victory at Plataea over the Persians he ordered that the dinner which had been prepared for the Persians should be served to himself and his officers. As this had a wondrous sumptuousness, he said, By Heaven, the Persian was a greedy fellow who, when he had all this, came after our barley-cake. [*](Cf. Herodotus, ix. 82.)