The ambassador from Elis stated that he had been dispatched to Sparta for the specific reason that he emulated the Spartan way of life. King Theopompus said, “So which of the two ways is better, yours or that of your fellow citizens. The ambassador declared that his was, causing the king to remark, “How then could this city of yours keep itself safe when among the population there is only one brave man?”
Someone asked why Spartans drink so sparingly. The reply, “So that others may not make decisions on our behalf, but we may for others.”
A foreigner asked a Spartan, “You people adhere strongly to having no occupation. The Spartan replied, “You are correct. Our aim is that, unlike you, we shouldn’t be concerned with every random pastime.”