Apophthegmata Laconica

Damis, with reference to the instructions sent from Alexander that they should pass a formal vote deifying him, said, We concede to Alexander that, if he so wishes, he may be called a god. [*](Cf. Aelian, Varia Historia, ii. 19.)

When Philip invaded the Peloponnesus, and someone said, There is danger that the Spartans may meet a dire fate if they do not make terms with the invader, Damindas exclaimed,You poor womanish thing! What dire fate could be ours if we have no fear of death?

Dercylidas, when Pyrrhus had his army near Sparta,[*](In 272 B.C.) was sent to him as ambassador; and when Pyrrhus stated that they must receive their king Cleonymus, or they would find out that they were no braver than any of the rest, Dercylidas interrupted to say, If this man is a god, we do not fear him, for we are guilty of no wrong; but if he is a man, he is surely not superior to us.

Demaratus, when Orontes had talked to him rather haughtily and someone remarked, Orontes has treated you haughtily, Demaratus, said, He has committed no fault against me; for it is those who talk to please that do harm, not those who talk with hatred at heart.

When someone asked why they visited disgrace upon those among them who lost their shields, but did not do the same thing to those who lost their helmets or their breastplates, he said, Because these they put on for their own sake, but the shield for the common good of the whole line.

As he was listening to a musician, he said, He seems to do his silly task fairly well. [*](Cf. the similar remarks in Moralia, 220 F (6) and 234 D (42), infra. )

In a council meeting he was asked whether it was due to foolishness or lack of words that he said nothing. But a fool, said he, would not be able to hold his tongue. [*](Cf. the similar remark of Bias in Moralia, 503 F, and of Solon in Stobaeus, Florilegium, xxxiv. 15.)

When someone inquired why he was an exile from Sparta, being a king, he said, Because her laws are more powerful than I am.