01c. 83 ADAlcibiades had a very handsome dog, that cost him seven thousand drachmas; and he cut off his tail, "that," said he, "the Athenians may have this story to tell of me, and may concern themselves no further with me."Plutarch / quote ↗
02c. 83 ADBeing summoned by the Athenians out of Sicily to plead for his life, Alcibiades absconded, saying that that criminal was a fool who studied a defence when he might fly for it.Plutarch / quote ↗
03c. 83 ADLamachus chid a captain for a fault; and when he had said he would do so no more, "Sir," said he, "in war there is no room for a second miscarriage." Said one to Iphicrates, "What are ye afraid of?" "Of all speeches," said he, "none is so dishonourable for a general as 'I should not have thought of it.'"Plutarch / quote ↗
04c. 83 ADTo Harmodius, descended from the ancient Harmodius, when he reviled Iphicrates [a shoemaker's son] for his mean birth, "My nobility," said he, "begins in me, but yours ends in you."Plutarch / quote ↗
05c. 83 ADOnce when Phocion had delivered an opinion which pleased the people, . . . he turned to his friend and said, "Have I not unawares spoken some mischievous thing or other?"Plutarch / quote ↗
06c. 83 ADPhocion compared the speeches of Leosthenes to cypress-trees. "They are tall," said he, "and comely, but bear no fruit."Plutarch / quote ↗
07c. 83 ADLycurgus the Lacedæmonian brought long hair into fashion among his countrymen, saying that it rendered those that were handsome more beautiful, and those that were deformed more terrible. To one that advised him to set up a democracy in Sparta, "Pray," said Lycurgus, "do you first set up a democracy in your own house."Plutarch / quote ↗
08c. 83 ADKing Agis said, "The Lacedæmonians are not wont to ask how many, but where the enemy are."Plutarch / quote ↗
09c. 83 ADLysander said, "Where the lion's skin will not reach, it must be pieced with the fox's."Plutarch / quote ↗
10c. 83 ADTo one that promised to give him hardy cocks that would die fighting, "Prithee," said Cleomenes, "give me cocks that will kill fighting."Plutarch / quote ↗
11c. 83 ADWhen Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but he that saith it never heard the sound of trumpets."Plutarch / quote ↗
12c. 83 ADA soldier told Pelopidas, "We are fallen among the enemies." Said he, "How are we fallen among them more than they among us?"Plutarch / quote ↗
13c. 83 ADCato the elder wondered how that city was preserved wherein a fish was sold for more than an ox.Plutarch / quote ↗
14c. 83 ADCato instigated the magistrates to punish all offenders, saying that they that did not prevent crimes when they might, encouraged them. Of young men, he liked them that blushed better than those who looked pale.Plutarch / quote ↗
15c. 83 ADCato requested old men not to add the disgrace of wickedness to old age, which was accompanied with many other evils.Plutarch / quote ↗
16c. 83 ADHe said they that were serious in ridiculous matters would be ridiculous in serious affairs.Plutarch / quote ↗
17c. 83 ADCicero said loud-bawling orators were driven by their weakness to noise, as lame men to take horse.Plutarch / quote ↗
18c. 83 ADAfter the battle in Pharsalia, when Pompey was fled, one Nonius said they had seven eagles left still, and advised to try what they would do. "Your advice," said Cicero, "were good if we were to fight jackdaws."Plutarch / quote ↗
19c. 83 ADAfter he routed Pharnaces Ponticus at the first assault, he wrote thus to his friends: "I came, I saw, I conquered."Plutarch / quote ↗
20c. 83 ADAs Cæsar was at supper the discourse was of death,—which sort was the best. "That," said he, "which is unexpected."Plutarch / quote ↗
21c. 83 ADAs Athenodorus was taking his leave of Cæsar, "Remember," said he, "Cæsar, whenever you are angry, to say or do nothing before you have repeated the four-and-twenty letters to yourself."Plutarch / quote ↗
22c. 83 AD"Young men," said Cæsar, "hear an old man to whom old men hearkened when he was young."Plutarch / quote ↗
23c. 83 ADRemember what Simonides said,—that he never repented that he had held his tongue, but often that he had spoken.Plutarch / quote ↗
