67. 3.When he was censured for operating mostly by trickery and fraud in a way unworthy of Heracles, and for achieving no honest success, he used to laugh and say that fox-skin had to be stitched on wherever lion-skin wouldn't stretch. When he was told that there was no possible path to cross the Alps with elephants, he responded with this phrase. The source is the sixth book of Homer's Iliad, (Iliad 6. "We are what we repeatedly do. When the Greeks were unwilling to listen to him, to terminate their agreements with the Macedonians Antipater and Craterus and so to be free (because they thought Spartans would prove more oppressive than Macedonians), he said: ‘While a sheep always utters the same cry, a human makes a great variety until he achieves his object.’24, (Otherwise unknown. When asked if the shape of the world is a sphere, Socrates replied: "I didn't bend so much.". The same applies to the confusion and anachronism which can occur in historical details. When they said it did, he replied: ‘Very well, make yourselves gods first, and when you have achieved that, then I shall believe your claim that you will be able to make me a god too.’, 26. The Spartans. For me, it is better to die for Greece than to be monarch of the people of my race.’, 11. As he was listening to a harpist, he remarked: ‘To me it's just foolery, but he does it pretty well.’, 4. It is striking, however, that those sayings in Sayings of Spartans attributed to Agesilaus, Lycurgus and Lysander that also feature in the corresponding Life by Plutarch appear in the same order in both works. Semper Fi! When someone introduced a harpist to him by saying: ‘This man is a good harpist,’ he replied: ‘In our country that man is a good maker of broth’ – so as to stress the lack of any difference between affording pleasure through the sound of instruments and through the preparation of meat dishes and broth. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BCE, when the invading . 10. 3. This saying is arguably one of the most well known on this list. Quite openly in front of everybody he caught and killed it, with the remark: ‘By the gods, what a pleasure to eliminate the conspirator even at the altar.’, 9. The Spartans do not ask how many are the enemy but where are they. This tattoo represents the love and honour towards Jesus and the verse which he actually gives. When somebody asked why they do not dedicate weapons won from their enemies to the gods, he said: ‘Because there is nothing honourable in the young men seeing things seized through their owners' cowardice, or in dedicating them to the gods.’, 1. When someone said: ‘After your frequent victories over the Argives in their wars against you, why haven't you wiped them out?’, he replied: ‘We wouldn't wish to wipe them out, because we want sparring-partners for our young men.’, 18. Avery Klatsky is a freshman majoring in Finance at Arizona State University. In the war against Philip, when some people were advising that they should join battle far from home, he said: ‘No, we shouldn't be looking at that question, but instead whether we shall be superior to the enemy in battle.’, 5. When someone else wanted to know why he declined gifts from the Messenians, he said: ‘Because if I accepted them it would be impossible to live at peace with the laws.’, 3. The Greek traitor Demaratus told Xerxes, "You're up against the noblest kingdom and city in Greece, and the best men." He wasn't kidding: Spartan men were trained to kill ruthlessly from . If it were square, would you make it round?’, 28. Every Greek historian, and . When his brother mentioned that, even though they were from the same family, the citizens' behaviour towards himself was not the same as it was towards him, but was less courteous, he said: ‘Yes, for you don't know how to suffer injustice, but I do. Spartan: [adjective] of or relating to Sparta in ancient Greece. When some harpist had been a great success, Eudamidas was asked his impression of him and said: ‘In his own small line he puts on a great show.’, 7. Whenever he heard people being critical or complimentary, he considered it just as important to establish the characters of those talking as of those being talked about. "IF" A perfect representation of Spartan character. To the person who had asked why none of their ancient laws might be changed, Pausanias son of Pleistoanax said: ‘Because the laws ought to control men, not men the laws.’, 2. He informed the ephors of this response, and they told him to go to Delphi and repeat his inquiry. When asked how one should remain a free man, he said: ‘By despising death.’, 1. When after his death he was found to be a poor man, those who had wooed his daughters left off. 376 quotes from Socrates. 3. Share. When a snake had coiled round the key on the inside of the gate and the seers were declaring this to be a portent, he remarked: ‘It doesn't look like that to me. On the contrary, it is fine for these current laws of ours to be valid – from tomorrow.’. When asked what sort of men the Ionians were, he said: ‘Good slaves, but worthless as free men.’. Andrew Bayliss, Senior Lecturer in Greek History at the University of . When some were determined to debar him because he was crippled, he said: ‘But what's needed to fight our foes is a man who stands his ground, not one who runs away.’, (Prominent Spartiate of the early fourth century, especially noted as a negotiator with the Persians. Anaxandridas the son of Leon said to a man who resented being exiled from his city: ‘Good friend, it's exile from justice, not from your city, that you should dread.’, 2. 5. They placed these virtues above all else, as you can see in these Spartan quotes. Found inside – Page 178Strange Bedfellows : Spartan Men and Women Spartan women had , compared to other women in ancient Greece ... wasn't keeping up his end of the procreation bargain ) —Plutarch , Sayings of Spartan could arrange for his wife to have sex ... Does anyone know exactly how it was spelt in Greek? The Greek p hilosopher Plutarch is one of our main sources for Spartan sayings. Timothy Doran examines both causes and consequences of the Spartiate population decline in the Classical and Hellenistic periods, surveying representative modern scholarship and offering new conclusions on this important phenomenon that ... [note 3] In general, however, Spartans were expected to be men of few words, to hold rhetoric in disdain, and to stick to the point. Instead I'm delighted that I should pay this penalty without requesting or borrowing anything from anyone.’, (Otherwise unknown. Such Spartan 'sayings' caught the imagination of other Greeks and featured in written accounts as early as that of Herodotus in the fifth century. At the same period such sayings also came to have special appeal for Diogenes and his followers in their ‘Cynic’ way of life, which spurned material possessions and questioned conventions of every kind. To the man who was amazed at how modest his clothes and his meals were, and those of the other Spartans as well, he said: ‘Freedom is what we reap from this way of life, my friend.’, 23. And later, when he was out of his mind, he grabbed a little dagger, slashed himself from his ankles all the way up to his vital parts, and by this means ended his life laughing and grimacing. Historical accuracy, however, was considered much less important than sharp, attractive presentation: occasionally even the Doric forms of Greek, which Spartans would have used, are introduced for the sake of ‘authenticity’. Otherwise unknown). Because a Spartan had known of the conspiracy formed by a certain group, but had kept quiet about it, the satrap of Caria wrote to Hippocratidas and in a postscript asked how he should deal with the man. - Socrates (see more quotes by Socrates) 3. by Andrew Bayliss. Άπαντα γαρ χωρεί. The 300 Spartans is a 1962 CinemaScope epic film depicting the Battle of Thermopylae. When someone was inquiring why his orders were to shift camp frequently, he said: ‘So that we may do the enemy greater harm.’, 25. The expression molon labe comes from an account of the historic Battle of Thermopylae between Xerxes I, king of Persia, and Leonidas I, king of the Greek city-state Sparta, in 480 b.c.. Soüs went down after everyone else, and with the enemy still there just splashed himself. I do not hold the command in my own interest, but in that of our city and allies. - Aristotle. In Greek, they are called: οι παροιμίες. Found inside – Page 1766.13 'With Your Shield or On It' Plutarch Sayings of Spartan Women 16, 20 (Moralia 241f–242a) Saying 16 (one of the most quoted—and mis-quoted—sayings from Greek history) overlooks the fact that most Spartans who were killed in battle ... This saying is arguably one of the most well known on this list. Useful Ancient Greek phrases A collection of useful phrases in Ancient Greek, the form of Greek spoken in Greece and Greek colonies from about the 9th century BC to the 6th century AD. Questioned as to how he had gained his great reputation, he said: ‘By having despised death.’, 36. Of the Sayings of Spartan Women the same may be said as of the Sayings of Spartans.It truly represents the work of Plutarch, and many of the sayings are repeated elsewhere in his writings; others perhaps in his writings that are now lost. Discover and share Greek Spartan Quotes In Translation. When another Athenian said to him: ‘We have indeed often driven you from the Cephisus,’ he replied: ‘But we have never driven you from the Eurotas.’, 4. Since Periander the doctor was professionally well respected and very highly recommended, but used to write dreadful poetry, he said to him: ‘Why ever is it, Periander, that you are so keen to be called a bad poet instead of an expert doctor?’, 4. 3. 2. Semper fidelis – “Always Faithful”. Killed at the battle of Thermopylae against Xerxes), 1. After Agesilaus had been wounded in battle by the Thebans19 he said to him: ‘You are receiving your fee for having taught people to fight who had neither the wish nor the knowledge to do so.’ For it was thought that they became warlike as a result of Agesilaus' continual campaigns against them. When another person was citing their glorious deeds against the Persians and strongly advocating the 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.’, 6. The Athenian Wife says calmly"I don't get to vote". When Agis was lining up for battle next to Archidamus, Hippodamus was sent by Agis to Sparta to carry out duties there. As he expanded his power through Greece, he sent a letter to the Spartan king asking if the Spartans wanted Philip to enter their land as a friend or an enemy. 4. •. — Thales of Miletus, 643-548 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher. 10 likes. Plutarch's vivid and engaging portraits of the Spartans and their customs are a major source of our knowledge about the rise and fall of this remarkable Greek city-state between the sixth and third centuries BC. Through his Lives of Sparta ... When others were criticizing him for breaking the oaths which he gave at Miletus, he would say: ‘Children have to be tricked with dice, but men with oaths.’, 5. This type of Greek-style tattoo is widely famous in America, England and Australia. Somebody drew his attention to the solid city-wall with its exceptionally strong construction and inquired if it made a favourable impression on him. 20, note 60), 1. But soon afterwards when he was sent as envoy39 from the same city to the same tyrant, Dionysius forwarded him two dresses with instructions that he should pick the one he liked and take it for his daughter. When someone else was keen to know why he ruled out attacks on forts, he said: ‘So that a woman or child or some such creature should not kill men, who are better than they.’, 31. When told no, it grew round, he said: ‘What then? And since you wish me to adopt the best course, and the best course is the just one both in the case of a private person, and much more so in that of a ruler, I shall do what you wish; but as for what you are proposing, I shall decline.’, 1. But he said: ‘What are you amazed at? When someone expressed surprise at this, he declared: ‘I want to be the student of men whose son I should like to be as well.’, 2. Sufficient accounts of Sparta and Spartan history survive to prove how the sayings in these collections derive from a wide variety of sources followed with varying degrees of conscientiousness. 65. 77. In this compilation from Plutarch's Moralia of famous sayings from over sixty Spartans we are shown that not were these ancients brave warriors in battle but had a complete philosophy of life which guided all their actions. 79. 18. Once he had fallen, Agesilaus' men reversed their retreat and put the victory in the balance again, with the Thebans now making a much worse showing and the Spartans a much better one. ‘However, should he be caught scheming against us, then not even if I receive ever so many letters, should he believe that he will have me for a friend.’, 73. His reactions to heat and cold were such that he alone always took advantage of the changing seasons. Extinguishing tyranny: they died around the gates of Selinus, and said: ‘You deserved to die for trying to extinguish a tyranny which was on fire, because instead you should have let it burn out totally.’, (Sixth-century Eurypontid king, who reigned with the Agiad Cleomenes I), I . As some Athenian was reading a funeral eulogy in praise of men killed by Spartans, he said: ‘What, then, do you think was the quality of our men who defeated them?’, (For possible identification of him and of Hecataeus in no. When someone said to him: ‘Except for being king you are not at all superior to us,’ Leonidas son of Anaxandridas and brother of Cleomenes replied: ‘But were I not better than you, I should not be king.’, 2. Answer (1 of 5): Sparta was an exceptional among Greek states I´d say, however I wouldn´t go so far as to call them matriarchal society. Since Megabates then ceased to approach him, Agesilaus asked after him. He said to someone who was inquiring why he made a law that girls should be given in marriage without a dowry: ‘So that none should be left unmarried because of poverty nor any pursued for their wealth, but that each man should study the girl's character and make his choice on the basis of her good qualities.’ For this reason he also outlawed the use of make-up from the city. 2. Greek Philosopher Quotes On Ancient Knowledge To Motivate You. When Cyrus forwarded the pay for his soldiers and gifts of friendship for himself, he accepted only the pay and returned the gifts, with a statement that he had no need of personal friendship with him, but regarded the general one concluded with all Spartans as sufficient for himself too. 6. Shop performance & commemorative gear. Be very wary of getting some dramatic saying in a foreign language as a tattoo. Leotychidas said to him: ‘Well then, you fool, why don't you die as quickly as possible, so that you may thereby put an end to moaning about your ill-fortune and poverty?’, 4. This one is the state motto of Alabama and depicted on its Coat of Arms as well. When someone was saying that Sparta was preserved by her kings' talent for command, he said: ‘No, rather by her citizens' readiness to obey.’, 5. Euboedas would not tolerate hearing some men praising someone else's wife, but declared that not a word should be said about a wife's character among those outside her family. 20. When someone was asking why he had ordered that enemy corpses were not to be despoiled, he said: ‘So that the men's attention may not wander from the fighting as they peer about for spoils, but also so that they may remain poor as well as in battle-order.’, (Outstanding commander of the late fifth and early fourth centuries. When asked the extent of territory controlled by the Spartiates, he said: ‘As much as they may reach with their spears.’, 3. When he was dragged down by a long bout of illness and turned to ritual healers and seers (which he had not done previously), somebody expressed amazement. The message was that the soldiers either returned with their shields as victors, or they died on the battlefield. Here is a top 10 list of the most epic Spartan o. 4. αἰὲν ἀριστεύειν aièn aristeúein "Ever to Excel" Motto of the University of St Andrews (founded 1410), the Edinburgh Academy (founded 1824), and Boston College (founded 1863). Plutarch's writing brings to life the personalities and achievements of Sparta. Revised edition includes a new introduction , a new essay on Plutarch, notes, a glossary, updated further reading, and an index. At this he said: ‘Do you really believe that the return march will be shameful, when the men here are dead and it's the women who have barred the gates?’, 6. Thus his men's morale was high as they went into battle believing it had been proved convincingly that they would win. Noticing that the Boeotians' reaction to his crossing their territory was ambiguous, he sent a message to inquire whether he should march through their territory with spears ready for action or at the slope. Semper fidelis, commonly referred to as Semper fi, translates to “always faithful” or “always loyal.” Its first recorded use was in 1369, as the motto of a French town named Abbeville. 15. 1. One of the Persians had revolted from the Great King and had been persuaded by Demaratus to return to him. He said to the man who declared his admiration and special affection for him: ‘I have two oxen in a field; even though neither says anything, I'm fully aware of which one idles and which one works.’, 13. Since he did not, but was eager to know of one, Namertes declared: ‘Through misfortune.’, 1. When someone was extolling the happy circumstances of the king of the Persians, who was quite a young man, he remarked: ‘But at that age not even Priam had met with disaster.’. This saying speaks for itself. He used to say that a general needs to show daring towards his opponents, goodwill towards his subordinates and a cool head in crises. When someone asked why Spartiates go into battle to the music of pipes, he said: ‘So that, as they proceed in step to the music, both the cowards and the brave may be clearly distinguished.’5, 37. We personally think it's a little unfair that pop culture has mainly portrayed the Spartans as a bunch of ass-kicking, throat-ripping slabs of beef. The King was about to have this Persian disposed of when Demaratus said: ‘O King, what a disgrace it is that when this man was your enemy you could not punish him for his revolt, but now that he's become your friend, you are executing him!’, 8. 51. Philip's invasion occurred in 338), After Philip had invaded the Peloponnese and someone remarked: ‘The Spartans are running the risk of a terrible disaster if they won't make terms with him,’ Damindas said: ‘You effeminate man, since we have despised death, what terrible thing could we suffer?’, When Pyrrhus was on Spartan territory with his army, and Dercyllidas had been sent to him as an envoy, Pyrrhus was demanding that they take back their king Cleonymus or else they would discover that they were no braver than other men; Dercyllidas interjected the remark: ‘If he is a god, we are not afraid, for we are not guilty of anything; but if he's human, he isn't superior to us.’27, (Eurypontid king deposed in 491. 1. 31. Herondas was at Athens when a man was convicted on a charge of having no work. 76. Gravity. He totally abstained from eating and drinking to excess, while he treated sleep not as his master, but rather as a subject governed by his own activities. Explore our collection of motivational and famous quotes by authors you know and love. For this reason the Spartans become one of the most feared armies in ancient Greece. The USMC adopted the saying as their motto in 1883. The Warriors of Greece - Spartan Facts and Terminology. Once when he was passing through Selinus in Sicily, he saw this couplet inscribed on a monument: These men were once cut down by brazen Ares as they were. To those who congratulated him on his victory in the battle against the Arcadians, 22 he said: ‘It would be better if our intelligence were beating them rather than our strength.’, 6. For if I die my country will not be worsted, but if I yielded to the enemy it would be.’ So after designating Cleander to succeed him as commander, he engaged in the naval battle and died fighting. When somebody once said to him, ‘You did agree,’ and frequently repeated the point, he responded: ‘Yes, by Zeus, I did, if it's right to; if not, though I spoke the words, I did not agree.’ When the other added: ‘But surely kings should fulfil “whate'er they assent to with a nod of the head”,’1 he replied: ‘No more than those who approach kings should make proper requests and statements, aiming both for the right moment and for something appropriate to kings.’. — Socrates, 469-399 BC, Ancient Geek Philosopher. 23. Asked once how far Sparta's boundaries stretched, he brandished his spear and said: ‘As far as this can reach.’, 29. Look at you, you're avaricious even though you have adequate means.’. Existing as a second rate power for many centuries later, the ancient site of Sparta can be found in the modern daytown of Spartion. The USMC adopted the saying as their motto in 1883. This volume reinvigorates the field of Classical Reception by investigating present-day culture, society, and politics, particularly gender, gender roles, and filmic constructions of masculinity and femininity which shape and are shaped by ... The most famous was Cicero (106-43 BC) who admired it along with the leadership of Leonidas. 41. 208B?236E, http://www.gutenberg.org/files/13575/13575-h/images/ill4.gif, The Project Gutenberg eBook of How to Observe in Archaeology, by Various. See Agesilaus, Ch. Yet there is no value in it unless you put it to use.’, (Regent for his cousin, the Agiad boy king Pleistarchus, from 480. Molon Labe (pronounced “Mow-lawn Lah-bey”) represents strength and pride. 16. The culture of the Spartan was based on state and military service's fidelity. She inquired first if Brasidas' death had been a noble one, to which the Thracians responded by praising him and declaring that there was no one else to match him. Since it was incredibly expensive, he said: ‘By the gods, with a spread like this what greedy characters the Persians were to chase after our barley-bread.’, 1. Discover and share Spartan Quotes In Greek. When the mouse turned round, bit the hand of its captor and escaped, he pointed this out to those present and said: ‘When the tiniest creature defends itself like this against aggressors, what ought men to do, do you reckon?’. The motto was created in 1923 (a little too recent for this list, but we’re keeping it anyway), and officially adopted for use in 1939. Laconic humor was the term invented specifically to describe the dry, biting wit of the Spartan people. JavaScript is disabled. 3), When his parents required him to be their accomplice in some wrongdoing, up to a point Acrotatus voiced his opposition. When he wanted to go to war against Persia with the aim of liberating the Greeks living in Asia, he consulted the oracle of Zeus at Dodona. Xerxes: There will be no glory in your sacrifice. 0. And with those words he took up his arms, stood on the king's right, and died fighting. When somebody 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?’, 2. As he was leading his army out against Messene, someone inquired if it was his intention to fight his brothers. This book contains a wealth of information that ranges from survival skills to social skills to advice on how to improve your character. When he saw that his men were on the verge of giving way in their fear of the impending danger created by the mass of the enemy (200,000 of them) and the small number of men he had, he decided to make a sacrifice before marshalling his forces. Lysander became an awfully clever trickster who did a great deal of fraudulent ‘fixing’. Plutarch was a Greek, born approximately 46 AD in the town of Chaeronea in the region of Boeotia. In capital letters Η ΤΑΝ Η ΕΠΙ ΤΑΣ. Scholars continue to debate what part, if any, Plutarch himself played in the compilation of either collection translated here. He would not tolerate this, but declared: ‘I was sent out as a fighting man, not as a message-bearer.’, (Late eighth/early seventh-century Eurypontid king), 1. Found inside – Page 592370, Plutarch, Sayings of the Spartans 65.1 [Moralia 231f]). 46. When the Thebans were arguing with them about something, a Spartan said: “You should either have less pride or more power.” Source: Plutarch, Sayings of the Spartans 69.3 ... Though the seer was discouraging him from leading his army against the city of Argos (on the grounds that the return march would prove shameful), he did advance against the city and so observed that the gates were barred and the women on the walls. When he was taken to task for breaking his oaths he said he had not sworn to include the nights as well as the days; and in any case among both gods and humans whatever harm one may inflict upon the enemy is considered to be something superior to strict equity.

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