Spartans Were Great At One-Liners

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Philip the Second of Macedon (Alexander the Great's Father) sent the Spartans a letter basically saying "Would you like me to enter your land as friend or foe?" The Spartans responded with one word. "Neither." Phillip was irate and sent another threatening letter basically saying, "If once I enter into your territories, I will destroy you all, never to rise again". The Spartans then sent back once again sent one word. "If."

Unlike in 300, where Gorgo says a variation quote below to the Persian messenger who Leonidas later kicks down a well, the real quote wasn't directed at a man, but rather to another woman. The legend goes that, while travelling through Attica, a local woman approached Queen Gorgo and innocently asked her, "Why are you Spartan women the only ones who can rule men?" Queen Gorgo replied, "Because we are also the only ones who give birth to men."

It wasn't uncommon for Spartan soldiers to decorate their shield, a story goes a young Spartan soldier was making a life-sized fly on his shield, one of his peers began to mock him, "Why would have a fly on your shield instead of something more intimidating." In which he replied, "It will be the size of a Lion when I bore down on my enemies."

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