Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata

Plutarch

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

When a poor old woman insisted that her case should be heard before him, and often caused him annoyance, he said he had no time to spare, whereupon she burst out, Then give up being king. Philip, amazed at her words, proceeded at once to hear not only her case but those of the others. [*](The story is told also in Plutarch’s Life of Demetrius, chap. xlii. (909 C). Stobaeus, Florilegium, xiii. 28, quotes Serenus, who states that a peasant made this remark to Antipater.)

While Alexander was still a boy and Philip was winning many successes, he was not glad, but said to [*]( d The story is told also in Plutarch’s Life of Demetrius, chap. xiii. (909 c). Stobaeus, Florilegium, xiii. 28, quotes Serenus, who states that a peasant made this remark to Anitpater. e Alexander the Great, born 356, king of Macedon 336323 B.C. )

his playmates, My father will leave nothing for me to do. But, said the boys, he is acquiring all this for you. But what good is it, said Alexander, if I possess much and accomplish nothing ? [*](Cf. Plutarch’s Life of Alexander, chap. v. (666 F). Many of the stories about Alexander are repeated in Zonaras, Epitome of History, iv. 8-15.)