Apophthegmata Laconica

Plutarch

Plutarch. Plutarch's Morals, Vol. I. Goodwin, William W., editor; unknown, translator. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company; Cambridge: Press of John Wilson and Son, 1874.

Aregeus, when some praised not their own but other men’s wives, said: Faith, about virtuous women there should be no common talk; and what beauty they have none but their own husbands should understand. As he was walking through Selinus, a city of Sicily, he saw this epitaph upon a tomb, —

  1. Those that extinguished the tyrannic flame,
  2. Surprised by war and hasty fate,
  3. Though they are still alive in lasting fame,
  4. Lie buried near Selinus’ gate; —
and said: You died deservedly for quenching it wnen already in a flame; for you should have hindered it from coming to a blaze.

Ariston, when one commended the saying of Cleomenes, — who, being asked what a good king should do, replied, Good turns to his friends, and evil to his enemies, — said: How much better is it, sir, to do good to our friends, and make our enemies our friends! Though upon all hands it is agreed Socrates spoke this first, yet he hath the credit of it too. To one asking how many the Spartans were in number he replied, Enough to chase our enemies. An Athenian making a funeral oration in praise of those that fell by the hand of the Lacedaemonians, he said, What brave fellows then were ours, that conquered these!

Archidamidas said to one commending Charilas for being kind to all alike, How can he deserve commendation,

that is gentle to the wicked and unjust? When one was angry with Hecataeus the Sophist because when ad mitted to the public entertainment he said nothing, he said, Sir, you seem not to understand that he that knows how to speak knows also when to speak.