Epaminondas

There is no need of money in the matter; for if what the king desires is for the good of the Thebans, I am ready to do it for nothing; but if otherwise, he has not gold and silver enough to move me, for I would not accept the riches of the whole world in exchange for my love for my country.

Epaminondas (Ἐπαμεινώνδας; circa 419/411–362 BC) was a Greek general and statesman of the city-state of Thebes, best known for defeating the Spartans at the Battle of Leuctra.

Quotes

• You deceive your countrymen with words, in dissuading them from war, since under the name of peace you are bringing upon them slavery; for peace is procured by war, and they, accordingly, who would enjoy it long, ought to be trained to war. If therefore, my countrymen, you wish to be leaders of Greece, you must devote yourselves to the camp, not to the palaestra.
  • As quoted by Cornelius Nepos, Great Generals of Foreign Nations, translation of J.C. Rolfe

• As to supposing that I am emulous of Agamemnon, you are mistaken; for he, with the support of all Greece, hardly took one city in ten years; I, on the contrary with the force of this one city of ours, and in one day, delivered all Greece by defeating the Lacedaemonians.
  • As quoted by Cornelius Nepos, Great Generals of Foreign Nations, translation of J.C. Rolfe

Indirect quotations

• It was his habit to appear at all times with a well-groomed body and a cheerful countenance, but on the day after that battle he went forth unwashed and with a look of dejection. When his friends asked if anything distressing had befallen him, he said, "Nothing ; but yesterday I found myself feeling a pride greater than is well. Therefore to-day I am chastising my immoderate indulgence in rejoicing."
  • Pausanius, Description of Greece, 9.1-22, translated by W.H.S. Jones

• When the Spartans accused the Thebans of a long list of serious offences, he retorted, "These Thebans, however, have put a stop to your brevity of speech!"
  • Pausanius, Description of Greece, 9.1-22, translated by W.H.S. Jones

• When somebody reported that the Athenians had sent an army, decked out with novel equipment, into the Pelopennese, he said, "Why should Antigenidas cry if Tellen has a new flute or two?" (Tellen was the worst of flute-players, and Antigenidas the best.)
  • Pausanius, Description of Greece, 9.1-22, translation and bracketed note by W.H.S. Jones

• Learning that his shield-bearer had received a great deal of money from a man who had been taken captive in the war, he said to him, "Give me back my shield, and buy yourself a tavern in which to spend the rest of your days; for you will no longer be willing to face danger as before, now that you have become one of the rich and prosperous."
  • Pausanius, Description of Greece, 9.1-22, translated by W.H.S. Jones

• His indifference to money was put to the proof by Diomedon of Cyzicus; for he, at the request of Artaxerxes, had undertaken to bribe Epaminondas. He accordingly came to Thebes with a large sum in gold, and, by a present of five talents, brought over Micythus, a young man for whom Epaminondas had then a great affection, to further his views. Micythus went to Epaminondas, and told him the cause of Diomedon's coming. But Epaminondas, in the presence of Diomedon, said to him, "There is no need of money in the matter; for if what the king desires is for the good of the Thebans, I am ready to do it for nothing; but if otherwise, he has not gold and silver enough to move me, for I would not accept the riches of the whole world in exchange for my love for my country."
  • Cornelius Nepos, Great Generals of Foreign Nations, translation of J.C. Rolfe

• Epaminondas is reported wittily to have said of a good man that died about the time of the battle of Leuctra, "How came he to have so much leisure as to die, when there was so much stirring?"
  • Plutarch, Moralia, Rules for the Preservation of Health, 25, Goodwin translation

• He was so frugal in his manner of living that once, when he was invited to dinner by a neighbour, and found there an elaborate display of cake and pastry and other dishes, and perfumes as well, he left at once, saying, "I thought this was to be a meal and not a display of arrogance."
  • Plutarch, Moralia, Sayings of Kings and Commanders, F.C. Babbitt translation

Quotes about

‘Tis a miracle to be able to mix any image of justice with such violent actions

• On the statue of Epaminondas is an inscription in elegiac verse relating among other things that he founded Messene, and that through him the Greeks won freedom. The elegiac verses are these:
  

  By my counsels was Sparta shorn of her glory,
  And holy Messene received at last her children.
  By the arms of Thebe was Megalopolis encircled with walls,
  And all Greece won independence and freedom.

  • Pausanius, Description of Greece 9.1-22, translated by W.H.S. Jones

• Spintharus, speaking in commendation of Epaminondas, says he scarce ever met with any man who knew more and spoke less.
  • Plutarch, Moralia, Of Hearing, 6, Goodwin translation

• I find so vast a distance betwixt Epaminondas, according to my judgment of him, and some that I know, who are yet men of good sense, that I could willingly enhance upon Plutarch, and say that there is more difference betwixt such and such a man than there is betwixt such a man and such a beast: and that there are as many and innumerable degrees of mind as there are cubits betwixt this and heaven.
  • Michel de Montaigne, Essays, Book I, Chapter XLII, Charles Cotton translation, https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3600/3600-h/3600-h.htm

• Of this virtue of his, he has, in my idea, given as ample proof as Alexander himself or Caesar: for although his warlike exploits were neither so frequent nor so full, they were yet, if duly considered in all their circumstances, as important, as bravely fought, and carried with them as manifest testimony of valour and military conduct, as those of any whatever.
  • Michel de Montaigne, Essays, Book II, Chapter XXXVI, Charles Cotton translation

• The Greeks have done him the honour, without contradiction, to pronounce him the greatest man of their nation; and to be the first of Greece, is easily to be the first of the world. As to his knowledge, we have this ancient judgment of him, "That never any man knew so much, and spake so little as he"; for he was of the Pythagorean sect; but when he did speak, never any man spake better; an excellent orator, and of powerful persuasion.
  • Michel de Montaigne, Essays, Book II, Chapter XXXVI, Charles Cotton translation

• 'Tis true that I look upon his obstinate poverty, as it is set out by his best friends, as a little too scrupulous and nice; and this is the only feature, though high in itself and well worthy of admiration, that I find so rugged as not to desire to imitate, to the degree it was in him.
  • Michel de Montaigne, Essays, Book II, Chapter XXXVI, Charles Cotton translation

• This was a soul of a rich composition: he married goodness and humanity, nay, even the tenderest and most delicate in the whole school of philosophy, to the roughest and most violent human actions. Was it nature or art that had intenerated that great courage of his, so full, so obstinate against pain and death and poverty, to such an extreme degree of sweetness and compassion? Dreadful in arms and blood, he overran and subdued a nation invincible by all others but by him alone; and yet in the heat of an encounter, could turn aside from his friend and guest. Certainly he was fit to command in war who could so rein himself with the curb of good nature, in the height and heat of his fury, a fury inflamed and foaming with blood and slaughter. ‘Tis a miracle to be able to mix any image of justice with such violent actions: and it was only possible for such a steadfastness of mind as that of Epaminondas therein to mix sweetness and the facility of the gentlest manners and purest innocence.
  • Michel de Montaigne, Essays, Book III, Chapter I, Charles Cotton translation

• Relaxation and facility, methinks, wonderfully honour and best become a strong and generous soul. Epaminondas did not think that to take part, and that heartily, in songs and sports and dances with the young men of his city, were things that in any way derogated from the honour of his glorious victories and the perfect purity of manners that was in him.
  • Michel de Montaigne, Essays, Book III, Chapter XIII, Charles Cotton translation

• He was so great a lover of truth, that he would not tell a falsehood even in jest.
  • Cornelius Nepos, Great Generals of Foreign Nations, translation of J.C. Rolfe

• He bore poverty so easily, that he received nothing from the state but glory. He did not avail himself of the means of his friends to maintain himself; but he often used his credit to relieve others, to such a degree that it might be thought all things were in common between him and his friends; for when any one of his countrymen had been taken by the enemy, or when the marriageable daughter of a friend could not be married for want of fortune, he used to call a council of his friends, and to prescribe how much each should give according to his means; and when he had made up the sum required, he brought the man who wanted it to those who contributed, and made them pay it to the person himself, in order that he, into whose hands the sum passed, might know to whom he was indebted, and how much to each.
  • Cornelius Nepos, Great Generals of Foreign Nations, translation of J.C. Rolfe

• His eloquence shone most at Sparta (when he was ambassador before the battle of Leuctra), where, when the ambassadors from all the allies had met, Epaminondas, in a full assembly of the embassies, so clearly exposed the tyranny of the Lacedaemonians, that he shook their power by that speech not less than by the battle of Leuctra; for he was at that time the cause (as it afterwards appeared) that they were deprived of the support of their allies.
  • Cornelius Nepos, Great Generals of Foreign Nations, translation of J.C. Rolfe

• Epameinondas, however, was carried back to camp still living, and the physicians were summoned, but when they declared that undoubtedly as soon as the spear-point should be drawn from his chest, death would ensue, with supreme courage he met his end. For first summoning his armour-bearer he asked him if he had saved his shield. On his replying yes and placing it before his eyes, he again asked, which side was victorious. At the boy's answer that the Boeotians were victorious, he said, "It is time to die," and directed them to withdraw the spear point. His friends present cried out in protest, and one of them said: "You die childless, Epameinondas," and burst into tears. To this he replied, "No, by Zeus, on the contrary I leave behind two daughters, Leuctra and Mantineia, my victories." Then when the spear point was withdrawn, without any commotion he breathed his last.
  • Diodorus Silicus, Bibliotheca historica, Book 15, translation of C. H. Oldfather