Okazaki Castle
03-29-2007, 05:08 PM
Antalcidas: When asked how one might best please people, he said: "By talking to them very pleasantly while dealing with them most helpfully."
Demaratus: After Orontes had conversed with him rather rudely and somebody remarked: 'Demaratus, Orontes has treated you rudely', Demaratus replied: " He has done me no wrong, since it's those who converse to curry favour who do harm, not those who show their enmity."
Eudamidas: When another person was citing their glorious deeds against the Persians and strongly advocating war, he said: "In my opinion you are not aware that this proposition is the same as taking on fifty wolves after overcoming a thousand sheep."
Eudamidas again: When someone said that he was a wise man and one of those who search for virtue, Eudamidas said: "And when will he make use of it if he is still searching for it?"
Thearidas: As Thearidas was honing his sword and was asked if it was sharp, he said: "Sharper than slander."
Callicratidas: When asked what sort of men the Ionians were, he said: "Good slaves, but worthless as free men."
Lysander: When a Persian inquired what type of constitution met with his greatest approval, he said: "Whichever gives brave men and cowards their due."
Pausanias: When amongst the spoils some people were amazed at the extravagance of the Persians' clothing, he said: "Better for them to be men of great worth rather than to have possessions of great worth."
When an Ionian woman was priding herself on one of the tapestries she had made (which was indeed of great value), a Spartan woman showed off her four most dutiful sons and said they were the kind of thing a noble and good woman ought to produce, and should boast of them and take pride in them.
When a Spartan woman heard that her son had died fighting bravely in the battle-line, she said "Yes, you were mine." But when she heard that her other son was still alive as a result of his cowardice she said: "No, you were not mine."
When another woman heard that her son was behaving badly abroad, she wrote to him: You've acquired a bad reputation. Either shalke this off or cease to exist."
Panthoidas: When the philosophers were engaging in much serious discussion in the Academy and Panthoidas was asked subsequently what impression thier talk made on him, he replied: "What else but serious? Yet there is no value in it unless you put it to use."
Panthoidas again: When he was on an embassy to Asia and some people were showing him a great high wall, he said: "By the gods, my friends, what splendid women's quarters!"
Leotychidas: When someone was remrking on how readily he changed his mind, he said: "Yes, but in accordance with the circumstances and not (like you people) because of a weak character."
A brigand overran the country and after his capture declared: "I did not have the means to support my soldiers, so I attacked those who did have it but wouldn't be willing to provide it, with the intention of taking it by force", Cleomenes said: "By the gods, crime is concise."
When one of the citizens was maintaining that the good king should be mild in every way, Cleomenes said: "Yes, but not to the extent of being contemptible."
Agasicles: "When asked how anyone could rule the citizens safely without having a bodyguard, he said: "By ruling them in the way that fathers do their sons."
Agesilaus: When somebody asked him to write to his friends in Asia so that he might gain justice there, he replied: "But my friends do what is right of thier own accord, even without a letter from me."
Agesilaus again: When asked once which of the two virtues was finer, courage of justice, he declared: "Courage has no value if justice is not in evidence too; but if everyone were to be just, then no one would need courage."
Cleomenes: He said to the Argives who were execrating him as an ungodly perjurer: "You may have the power to utter abusive words, but I'm able to do you real harm."
Agis: He came alone on an embassy to Phillip. When the latter said: "What's this? Have you come alone?" he replied: "Yes, since I've come to see one man."
Anaxandridas: When someone was inquiring why their practice was to hand their landholdings over to helots and not to care for them personally, he said: "Because we acquired them by caring for ourselves, not for our land."
Leon: When someone engaged him at an inappropriate moment about business which was by no means trivial, he said: "Friend, the question you raise is a good one, but your timing is not good."
Archidamidas: When someone was criticizing the sophist Hecataeus because he had been invited to their mess and would then say nothing, he remarked: "Evidently you don't understand that an expert at speaking also knows when to speak."
Archidamus: To those who congratulated him on his victory in the battle against the Arcadians, he said: "It would be better if our intelligence were beating them rather than our strength."
Leon: When asked what sort of city one should live in to live safely, he said: "One whose inhabitants will possess neither too much nor too little; and where justice will be strong and injustice weak."
Demaratus: After Orontes had conversed with him rather rudely and somebody remarked: 'Demaratus, Orontes has treated you rudely', Demaratus replied: " He has done me no wrong, since it's those who converse to curry favour who do harm, not those who show their enmity."
Eudamidas: When another person was citing their glorious deeds against the Persians and strongly advocating war, he said: "In my opinion you are not aware that this proposition is the same as taking on fifty wolves after overcoming a thousand sheep."
Eudamidas again: When someone said that he was a wise man and one of those who search for virtue, Eudamidas said: "And when will he make use of it if he is still searching for it?"
Thearidas: As Thearidas was honing his sword and was asked if it was sharp, he said: "Sharper than slander."
Callicratidas: When asked what sort of men the Ionians were, he said: "Good slaves, but worthless as free men."
Lysander: When a Persian inquired what type of constitution met with his greatest approval, he said: "Whichever gives brave men and cowards their due."
Pausanias: When amongst the spoils some people were amazed at the extravagance of the Persians' clothing, he said: "Better for them to be men of great worth rather than to have possessions of great worth."
When an Ionian woman was priding herself on one of the tapestries she had made (which was indeed of great value), a Spartan woman showed off her four most dutiful sons and said they were the kind of thing a noble and good woman ought to produce, and should boast of them and take pride in them.
When a Spartan woman heard that her son had died fighting bravely in the battle-line, she said "Yes, you were mine." But when she heard that her other son was still alive as a result of his cowardice she said: "No, you were not mine."
When another woman heard that her son was behaving badly abroad, she wrote to him: You've acquired a bad reputation. Either shalke this off or cease to exist."
Panthoidas: When the philosophers were engaging in much serious discussion in the Academy and Panthoidas was asked subsequently what impression thier talk made on him, he replied: "What else but serious? Yet there is no value in it unless you put it to use."
Panthoidas again: When he was on an embassy to Asia and some people were showing him a great high wall, he said: "By the gods, my friends, what splendid women's quarters!"
Leotychidas: When someone was remrking on how readily he changed his mind, he said: "Yes, but in accordance with the circumstances and not (like you people) because of a weak character."
A brigand overran the country and after his capture declared: "I did not have the means to support my soldiers, so I attacked those who did have it but wouldn't be willing to provide it, with the intention of taking it by force", Cleomenes said: "By the gods, crime is concise."
When one of the citizens was maintaining that the good king should be mild in every way, Cleomenes said: "Yes, but not to the extent of being contemptible."
Agasicles: "When asked how anyone could rule the citizens safely without having a bodyguard, he said: "By ruling them in the way that fathers do their sons."
Agesilaus: When somebody asked him to write to his friends in Asia so that he might gain justice there, he replied: "But my friends do what is right of thier own accord, even without a letter from me."
Agesilaus again: When asked once which of the two virtues was finer, courage of justice, he declared: "Courage has no value if justice is not in evidence too; but if everyone were to be just, then no one would need courage."
Cleomenes: He said to the Argives who were execrating him as an ungodly perjurer: "You may have the power to utter abusive words, but I'm able to do you real harm."
Agis: He came alone on an embassy to Phillip. When the latter said: "What's this? Have you come alone?" he replied: "Yes, since I've come to see one man."
Anaxandridas: When someone was inquiring why their practice was to hand their landholdings over to helots and not to care for them personally, he said: "Because we acquired them by caring for ourselves, not for our land."
Leon: When someone engaged him at an inappropriate moment about business which was by no means trivial, he said: "Friend, the question you raise is a good one, but your timing is not good."
Archidamidas: When someone was criticizing the sophist Hecataeus because he had been invited to their mess and would then say nothing, he remarked: "Evidently you don't understand that an expert at speaking also knows when to speak."
Archidamus: To those who congratulated him on his victory in the battle against the Arcadians, he said: "It would be better if our intelligence were beating them rather than our strength."
Leon: When asked what sort of city one should live in to live safely, he said: "One whose inhabitants will possess neither too much nor too little; and where justice will be strong and injustice weak."