Histories

Now I praise all the Greeks who dwell in those Dorian lands, yet I am not going to speak these words about all of them, but only about the Lacedaemonians. First, they will never accept conditions from you that bring slavery upon Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas; and second, they will meet you in battle even if all the other Greeks are on your side.

Do not ask me how many these men are who can do this; they will fight with you whether they have an army of a thousand men, or more than that, or less.”