Beggars are lazy

A beggar asked alms of a Spartan, who said, “If I should give to you, you will be the more a beggar; and for this unseemly conduct of yours he who first gave you is responsible, for he thus made you lazy.”

Close to the enemy to be seen in real size

41 A Spartan had as an emblem on his shield a  p409 fly, and that, too, no bigger than life-size. DWhen some mockingly said that he had done this to escape being noticed, he said, “Rather that I may be noticeable; for I come so close to the enemy that my emblem is seen by them in its true size.”

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“You should have less pride or more power”

Short swords — get close to the enemy.

Another, in answer to the inquiry, “Why do you use short swords?” said, “So that we may get close to the enemy.”

What does it mean to do a “great thing”?

One of the Spartans saw Diogenes the Cynic holding his arms around a bronze statue in very cold weather,​13 and asked Diogenes if he were cold, and when Diogenes said “No,” the other said, “What great thing are you doing then?”

Cowardly *AND* unjust?

One of the people of Metapontum, being reproached for cowardice by a Spartan,​14 said, B“But as a matter of fact we have not a little of the country of other states”; whereupon the Spartan replied, “Then you are not only cowardly, but also unjust.”

Humor

A man who was visiting Sparta stood for a long time upon one foot, and said to a Spartan, “I do  p401 not think that you, sir, could stand upon one foot as long as that”; and the other interrupting said, “No, but there is not a single goose that could not do it.”

Own yourself

Seeking to own others when you don’t even own yourself?

At the time when the Athenians had surrendered their city,18 they declared it was only right that Samos should be left to them, but the Spartans  p403 said, “Do you, at a time when you do not even own yourselves, seek to possess others?” From this incident arose the proverb:19

Who does not own himself would Samos own.

Courage over skill

They appointed no trainers to instruct in wrestling so that the rivalry might not be in skill, but in courage.​21 This is the reason why Lysanoridas, when he was asked how Charon had conquered him, said, “By his great resourcefulness.”

Quick enough and brave enough?

What do I know?

How to be free

A Spartan being asked what he knew, said, “How to be free.”