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Julian Worker's Reviews > On Sparta
On Sparta
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The Spartans were much admired by many cities but none of them tried to copy the Spartans.
The sayings in this book show more about the Spartan mentality than anything else.
1) When asked once which of the two virtues was finer, courage or justice, King Agesilaus declared "Courage has no value if justice is not in evidence too; but if everyone were to be just, then no one would need courage."
2) When asked how someone might most surely earn people's esteem, Agesilaus replied "By the best words and the finest actions."
3) When someone said "After your frequent victories over the Argives in their wars against you, why haven't you wiped them out?" King Cleomenes replied "We wouldn't wish to wipe them out, because we want sparring partners for our young men."
4) When Leonidas was leaving to fight The Persians at Thermopylae, his wife Gorgo inquired if he had any instructions for her. Leonidas replied "To marry good men and bear good children."
5) At Thermopylae, the Persian king Xerxes wrote to Leonidas and demanded "deliver up your arms." Leonidas replied "Come and take them."
6) When a Spartan woman heard her son had escaped from the enemy, she wrote to him: "You've been tainted by a bad reputation. Either wipe this out now or cease to exist."
7) Another Spartan woman, when she heard her son had died in battle right at his place in the line, said: "Bury him and let his brother fill his place."
Other examples of the Spartan way of living were provided in a book called Spartan Society by Xenophon.
1) Young people wore one item of clothing throughout the year so they'd become disciplined and ignore the extremes of hot and cold weather.
2) No shoes would be worn when outside so that the feet would be toughened up.
3) People ate together in messes so that the amount of food each person consumed could be controlled.
4) All laws were meant to be obeyed, however using a neighbour's horse without permission but returning it safely was fine as it helped the community as a whole.
5) Stealing food was allowed as long as it was successful. It was thought that this developed cunning thoughts which could be useful on the battlefield. However, if the thief was caught they'd be whipped as unsuccessful thieves were treated with disdain.
6) Men and women were encouraged to attend gyms, engage in athletic practices, and take part in contests. The idea being that strong men and strong women together would conceive strong children.
The sayings in this book show more about the Spartan mentality than anything else.
1) When asked once which of the two virtues was finer, courage or justice, King Agesilaus declared "Courage has no value if justice is not in evidence too; but if everyone were to be just, then no one would need courage."
2) When asked how someone might most surely earn people's esteem, Agesilaus replied "By the best words and the finest actions."
3) When someone said "After your frequent victories over the Argives in their wars against you, why haven't you wiped them out?" King Cleomenes replied "We wouldn't wish to wipe them out, because we want sparring partners for our young men."
4) When Leonidas was leaving to fight The Persians at Thermopylae, his wife Gorgo inquired if he had any instructions for her. Leonidas replied "To marry good men and bear good children."
5) At Thermopylae, the Persian king Xerxes wrote to Leonidas and demanded "deliver up your arms." Leonidas replied "Come and take them."
6) When a Spartan woman heard her son had escaped from the enemy, she wrote to him: "You've been tainted by a bad reputation. Either wipe this out now or cease to exist."
7) Another Spartan woman, when she heard her son had died in battle right at his place in the line, said: "Bury him and let his brother fill his place."
Other examples of the Spartan way of living were provided in a book called Spartan Society by Xenophon.
1) Young people wore one item of clothing throughout the year so they'd become disciplined and ignore the extremes of hot and cold weather.
2) No shoes would be worn when outside so that the feet would be toughened up.
3) People ate together in messes so that the amount of food each person consumed could be controlled.
4) All laws were meant to be obeyed, however using a neighbour's horse without permission but returning it safely was fine as it helped the community as a whole.
5) Stealing food was allowed as long as it was successful. It was thought that this developed cunning thoughts which could be useful on the battlefield. However, if the thief was caught they'd be whipped as unsuccessful thieves were treated with disdain.
6) Men and women were encouraged to attend gyms, engage in athletic practices, and take part in contests. The idea being that strong men and strong women together would conceive strong children.
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