With it or on it.
"Spoken to a son handing him his shield: come back with it, or on it"
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartan Women 241f, our translation from the Greek
Come and take them.
"Leonidas' reply to Xerxes' demand that the Spartans hand over their arms"
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans 225c, our translation from the Greek
Blot out the sun? Good. We'll fight in the shade.
"told the Persian arrows would hide the sun, he answered that they would then fight in the shade"
Herodotus, Histories 7.226, our translation from the Greek
If.
"Their entire written reply to Philip of Macedon's threat beginning "If I invade Laconia""
Plutarch, On Talkativeness 511a, our translation from the Greek
Fortify people, not walls.
"as he did not fence his city with walls, but fortified the inhabitants by virtue and preserved the city always free"
Epictetus, Fragment 45, George Long, 1877
You gave me a violent young man. I give you back a good citizen.
"I received from you this youth when he was insolent and violent: I restore him to you gentle and a good citizen"
Epictetus, Fragment 67, George Long, 1877
The place doesn't make the man. The man makes the place.
"δείξω γὰρ ὅτι οὐχ οἱ τόποι τοὺς ἄνδρας ἐντίμους, ἀλλʼ οἱ ἄνδρες τοὺς τόπους ἐπιδεικνύουσι."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Agesilaus 6 (208d), our translation from the Greek
No walls? These men are Sparta's walls.
"ἐπιδείξας τοὺς πολίτας ἐξωπλισμένους ταῦτά ἐστιν εἶπε τὰ Λακεδαιμονίων τείχη."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Agesilaus 29 (210e), our translation from the Greek
War needs men who stand, not men who run.
"οὐκ αἰσθάνῃ ἔφη ὅτι οὐ φευγόντων ἀλλὰ μενόντων ὁ πόλεμος χρείαν ἔχει;"
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Agesilaus 34 (210f), our translation from the Greek
Courage without justice is worthless.
"οὐδὲν ὄφελος ἀνδρείας ἔφασκεν εἶναι μὴ παρούσης δικαιοσύνης"
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Agesilaus 62 (213c), our translation from the Greek
Learn to lead. Learn to follow.
"διότι εἶπε παρὰ τοὺς ἄλλους ἀσκοῦσιν ἄρχειν τε καὶ ἄρχεσθαι."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Agesilaus 51 (212c), our translation from the Greek
Spartans don't ask how many. Only where.
"οὐκ ἔφη δὲ τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους ἐρωτᾶν πόσοι εἰσὶν οἱ πολέμιοι, ἀλλὰ ποῦ εἰσίν."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Agis 3 (215d), our translation from the Greek
Came alone? I came to one man.
"εἰπόντος δʼ ἐκείνου τί τοῦτο; μόνος ἥκεις; ἔφη καὶ γὰρ πρὸς ἕνα."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Agis 16 (216a), our translation from the Greek
Want to stay free? Look down on death.
"ἐρωτηθεὶς δὲ πῶς ἄν τις ἐλεύθερος διαμένοι, θανάτου καταφρονῶν ἔφη."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Agis 18 (216c), our translation from the Greek
The best Spartan? The one least like you.
"πρὸς δὲ ἄνθρωπον πονηρὸν ἐρωτῶντα πολλάκις τίς ἄριστος εἴη Σπαρτιάτης ὁ σοὶ ἀνομοιότατος."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Agis the Younger 2 (216c), our translation from the Greek
Uneducated? We alone learned nothing bad from you.
"μόνοι γοῦν εἶπεν ἡμεῖς οὐδὲν μεμαθήκαμεν παρʼ ὑμῶν κακόν."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Antalcidas 2 (217d), our translation from the Greek
Add to your strength or cut your pride.
"ἢ τῇ δυνάμει πρόσθες ἔφη ἢ τοῦ φρονήματος ὕφες."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Archidamus son of Zeuxidamus 8 (218e), our translation from the Greek
Measure your shadow. Winning didn't make it any longer.
"εἰ μετρήσαις τὴν σαυτοῦ σκιάν, οὐκ ἂν εὕροις αὐτὴν μείζονα γεγενημένην ἢ πρὶν νικᾶν."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Archidamus son of Agesilaus 1 (218e), our translation from the Greek
Our border is wherever the spear reaches.
"ἐρωτηθεὶς δὲ πόσης χώρας κρατοῦσιν οἱ Σπαρτιᾶται ὅσης ἄν ἔφη τῷ δόρατι ἐφίκωνται."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Archidamus son of Agesilaus 2 (218f), our translation from the Greek
Quiet is a fine thing.
"ἐπέστειλεν αὐτοῖς Ἀρχίδαμος Ἠλείοις· καλὸν ἡσυχία."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Archidamus son of Agesilaus 6 (219a), our translation from the Greek
War doesn't eat from a fixed ration.
"ὁ πόλεμος ἔφη οὐ τεταγμένα σιτεῖται."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Archidamus son of Agesilaus 7 (219a), our translation from the Greek
Nothing is too small to survive if it dares to fight back.
"οὐδὲν οὕτως ἔφη μικρόν ἐστιν, ὃ οὐ σῴζεται τολμῶν ἀμύνεσθαι τοὺς ἐπιχειροῦντας."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Brasidas 1 (219c), our translation from the Greek
I'll do what I set out to do, or die.
"ἅσσα δηλῶμαι πράξω κατὰ πόλεμον ἢ τεθναξοῦμαι."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Brasidas 3 (219d), our translation from the Greek
He was a good man. Sparta has many better.
"καλὸς μὲν ἦν κἀγαθὸς ὁ παῖς μου ... πολλοὺς δʼ ἄνδρας Λακεδαίμων ἔχει τήνου κάρρονας."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartan Women, Argileonis 1 (240c), our translation from the Greek
A fool couldn't stay this quiet.
"ἀλλʼ ὅ γε μωρὸς οὐκ ἂν δύναιτο σιγᾶν ἔφη."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Demaratus 4 (220a), our translation from the Greek
Armor protects you. The shield protects the line.
"ὅτι ἔφη ταῦτα μὲν ἑαυτῶν χάριν περιτίθενται τὴν δὲ ἀσπίδα τῆς κοινῆς τάξεως ἕνεκα."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Demaratus 2 (220a), our translation from the Greek
Still searching for virtue? When will he use it?
"καὶ πότε ἔφη χρήσεται αὐτῇ, ἐὰν ἄρτι ζητῇ;"
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Eudamidas 1 (220d), our translation from the Greek
Time grows modest honors and erases inflated ones.
"τὰς μὲν μετρίας ὁ χρόνος αὔξει, τὰς δʼ ὑπεραιρούσας ἀφανίζει."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Theopompus 5 (221f), our translation from the Greek
Hold your ground. Win or die there.
"μένοντα δὲ ἢ ἀποθανεῖν ἢ νικᾶν ἄριστον."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Callicratidas 5 (222e), our translation from the Greek
Sparta doesn't depend on one man.
"οὐ παρʼ ἕνα τὰ Σπάρτας"
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Callicratidas 6 (222f), our translation from the Greek
They're close? Then so are we.
"ἄλλου δὲ εἰπόντος πάρεισιν ἐγγὺς ἡμῶν, οὐκοῦν ἔφη καὶ ἡμεῖς αὐτῶν ἐγγύς."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Leonidas 7 (225b), our translation from the Greek
By numbers, all Greece isn't enough. By courage, we are.
"εἰ μὲν οἴεσθέ με ἔφη τῷ πλήθει, οὐδὲ ἡ πᾶσα Ἑλλὰς ... εἰ δὲ ταῖς ἀρεταῖς, καὶ οὗτος ὁ ἀριθμὸς ἱκανός."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Leonidas 8 (225b), our translation from the Greek
Eat breakfast like men who will dine in Hades.
"τοῖς δὲ στρατιώταις παρήγγειλεν ἀριστοποιεῖσθαι ὡς ἐν ᾍδου δειπνοποιησομένους."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Leonidas 13 (225d), our translation from the Greek
In word, to hold the pass. In deed, to die for Greece.
"τῷ λόγῳ ἔφη τῷ δʼ ἔργῳ ἀποθανούμενος ὑπὲρ τῶν Ἑλλήνων."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Leonidas 4 (225a), our translation from the Greek
I came to fight, not to carry messages.
"οὐ κῆρυξ ἀλλὰ μαχητὰς ἀκολούθησα"
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Leonidas 15 (225e), our translation from the Greek
Want democracy? Start with your own house.
"σὺ πρῶτος ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ σου ποίησον δημοκρατίαν."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Lycurgus 21 (228c), our translation from the Greek
Never make quitting a habit.
"ὅπως εἶπε μηδεὶς αὐτῶν ἐν τῷ πονεῖν ἀπαυδᾶν ἐθίζηται."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Lycurgus 23 (228d), our translation from the Greek
Long hair makes the handsome finer and the ugly scarier.
"ὅτι τοὺς μὲν καλοὺς εὐπρεπεστέρους ποιεῖ, τοὺς δὲ αἰσχροὺς φοβερωτέρους."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Lycurgus 29 (228f), our translation from the Greek
Where the lion skin won't reach, stitch on the fox.
"ὅπου μὴ ἐφικνεῖται τῇ λεοντῆ, προσραπτέον εἶναι τὴν ἀλωπεκῆν."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Lysander 3 (229b), our translation from the Greek
Not picked for the 300? Good. Sparta has 300 better than me.
"διότι συγχαίρω τῇ πόλει τριακοσίους κρείττονάς μου πολίτας ἐχούσῃ."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Pedaritus 3 (231b), our translation from the Greek
More of them? Then more glory for us.
"οὐκοῦν ἔφη ἡμεῖς εὐκλεέστεροι ἐσόμεθα· πλείους γὰρ ἀποκτενοῦμεν."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Pedaritus 1 (231b), our translation from the Greek
Men of few words need few laws.
"ὀλίγα λέγουσιν ὀλίγων καὶ νόμων ἐστὶ χρεία"
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Charillus 1 (232b), our translation from the Greek
If I weren't angry, I'd have killed you.
"εἰ μὴ ὠργιζόμην εἶπε κατέκτανον ἄν σε."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Charillus 3 (232c), our translation from the Greek
We forgot your beginning, so we missed your end.
"τὰ μὲν πρῶτα ἐπιλελάθαμες, τὰ δὲ ὕστερα οὐ συνείκαμες διὰ τὸ τὰ πρῶτα ἐπιλελᾶσθαι."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Anonymous 1 (232d), our translation from the Greek
I grow the gray beard so I never shame it.
"ἵνα βλέπων τὰς πολιὰς μηδὲν ἀνάξιον αὐτῶν πράττω."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Anonymous 4 (232e), our translation from the Greek
Athenians beating Spartans? Sure. In a painting.
"Λάκων ὑποτυχών ἐν τῷ πίνακι εἶπε."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Anonymous 9 (232f), our translation from the Greek
All voice and nothing else.
"φωνὰ τὺ τίς ἐσσι καὶ οὐδὲν ἄλλο."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Anonymous 15 (233a), our translation from the Greek
Stand on one leg that long? Any goose can.
"τῶν μέντοι χηνῶν οὐκ ἔστιν ὅστις οὔ."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Anonymous 18 (233b), our translation from the Greek
Where are the Spartans? Not here, or you wouldn't be.
"οὐ πάρεισιν ἔφη· οὐ γὰρ ἂν ὑμεῖς δεῦρο ἤλθετε."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Anonymous 23 (233c), our translation from the Greek
Friend or enemy? Neither.
"πότερον βούλεται φίλιον ἐλθεῖν ἢ πολέμιον αὐτόν, ἀντεφώνησαν οὐδέτερον."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Anonymous 28 (233e), our translation from the Greek
Lucky you missed the bandits? Lucky they missed us.
"ἀλλʼ ἐκεῖνοι μὴ περιτυχόντες ἡμῖν."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Anonymous 36 (234b), our translation from the Greek
What's your skill? Being free.
"Λάκων ἐρωτηθεὶς τί ἐπίσταται, εἶπεν ἐλεύθερος εἶναι."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Anonymous 37 (234b), our translation from the Greek
A tiny fly on my shield? I get close enough to show it.
"οὕτω γὰρ τοῖς πολεμίοις πλησίον προσέρχομαι, ὥστε τὸ ἐπίσημον ἡλίκον ἐστὶν ὑπʼ αὐτῶν ὁρᾶσθαι."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Anonymous 41 (234c), our translation from the Greek
Is the road safe? Lions walk where they please.
"οἱ μὲν γὰρ λέοντες βαδίζοντι ὅπα κα λέωντι"
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Anonymous 43 (234d), our translation from the Greek
Bite like a woman? No. Like a lion.
"οὐ μὲν οὖν εἶπεν ἅτερος ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ οἱ λέοντες."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Anonymous 44 (234d), our translation from the Greek
To stand upright, you need something inside.
"νὴ τὼ σιώ εἶπεν ἔνδον τι εἶναι δεῖ."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Anonymous 50 (234f), our translation from the Greek
If I do nothing else, I'll blunt an enemy blade.
"κἂν μηδὲν ἕτερον πράξω ἔφη πολεμίου γε μάχαιραν ἀμβλυνῶ."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Anonymous 62 (235f), our translation from the Greek
Better than me? No. Better at throwing.
"οὐ μὲν οὖν ἔφη ἀλλὰ καββαλικώτερος."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans, Anonymous 72 (236e), our translation from the Greek
A servant ties his sandals? Father, the stranger has no hands.
"πάτερ ἔφη ὁ ξένος χεῖρας οὐκ ἔχει."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartan Women, Gorgo 3 (240e), our translation from the Greek
Why do we lead? We're the only ones who bear men.
"ὅτι ἔφη καί τίκτομεν μόναι ἄνδρας."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartan Women, Gorgo 5 (240e), our translation from the Greek
Good people don't howl. They heal.
"καὶ οὐκ ἔφη δεῖν τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς βοᾶν ἀλλʼ ἰατρεύεσθαι"
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartan Women, Gyrtias 1 (240e), our translation from the Greek
Every step, remember your courage.
"τέκνον εἶπε κατὰ βῆμα τῆς ἀρετῆς μέμνησο."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartan Women, Anonymous 13 (241e), our translation from the Greek
Sword too short? Take one step closer.
"ἄλλη πρὸς τὸν υἱὸν λέγοντα μικρὸν ἔχειν τὸ ξίφος εἶπε καὶ βῆμα πρόσθες."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartan Women, Anonymous 18 (241f), our translation from the Greek
Do better, or stay where you are.
"ἢ βελτίονα πρᾶσσε ἢ αὖθι μένε"
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartan Women, Anonymous 11 (241d), our translation from the Greek
Will you be good if I buy you? Even if you don't.
"εἰ ἔσται ἀγαθή, ἂν αὐτὴν ἀγοράσῃ, εἶπε κἂν μὴ ἀγοράσῃς."
Plutarch, Sayings of Spartan Women, Anonymous 29 (242c), our translation from the Greek
A loss hurts once. A shameful gain hurts forever.
"ζημίαν αἱρεῖσθαι μᾶλλον ἢ κέρδος αἰσχρόν· ἡ μὲν γὰρ ἅπαξ ἐλύπησε, τὸ δὲ διὰ παντός."
Diogenes Laertius 1.70, our translation from the Greek
Be strong and gentle. Be respected, not feared.
"ἰσχυρὸν ὄντα πρᾷον εἶναι, ὅπως οἱ πλησίον αἰδῶνται μᾶλλον ἢ φοβῶνται."
Diogenes Laertius 1.70, our translation from the Greek
Don't let your tongue outrun your mind.
"τὴν γλῶτταν μὴ προτρέχειν τοῦ νοῦ."
Diogenes Laertius 1.70, our translation from the Greek
Master your temper.
"θυμοῦ κρατεῖν."
Diogenes Laertius 1.70, our translation from the Greek
Stone tests gold. Gold tests people.
"ἐν λιθίναις ἀκόναις ὁ χρυσὸς ἐξετάζεται ... ἐν δὲ χρυσῷ ἀνδρῶν ἀγαθῶν τε κακῶν τε νοῦς ἔδωκʼ ἔλεγχον."
Diogenes Laertius 1.71, our translation from the Greek
Be quicker to a friend's bad day than his good one.
"ταχύτερον ἐπὶ τὰς ἀτυχίας τῶν φίλων ἢ ἐπὶ τὰς εὐτυχίας πορεύεσθαι."
Diogenes Laertius 1.70, our translation from the Greek

Vote for the next drop in the library