Famous Laconian military quotes

[G3SG1]

The Spartans had their way to speak a minimum amount of words especially when in military operations.

Once the Spartan general Hippocrates was vice admiral during a battle of Peloponesian war and the admiral Mindarus was killed while the Spartan ships were burned . He sent this message to Sparta:

''Ships destroyed , Mindarus killed, troops hungry, what to do?'' :)

One other general took orders to conquer a city who rebelled against Sparta. He went there and defeated the rebels. He sent a message to Sparta saying '' I took over the city .... '' And the Spartans send him back an ungry message saying: You should say only '' I took over''. We know which city we send you to fight.

[khalifah]

Thucydides "History of the Peloponnesian War" has a handful of quotes from Greek Generals (on both sides) that are pritty awsome if you ask me.

In regards to the attitude twards atraktos(arrows), Thucydides had this to say:

An Athenian Ally, who some time after insultingly asked one of the prisoners from the island if those that had fallen were men of honour, recieved for answer that the arrow would be worth a great deal if it could tell men of honour, from the rest(Book 4 Chapter 40)
....real men fight with spear and shield. not with bows and arrows :p

there is also a famous quote that just screams "FVCK YOU!" in a diplomatic sense.

Neither are we beginning war, Peloponnesians, nor are we breaking the treaty; but these Corcyraeans are ouir allies, and we are come to help them. So if you want to sail anywhere else, we place no obstacle in your way;but if you are going to sail against Corcyra, or any of her possessions, we shall do our best to stop you(Book 1 Chapter 53)

[Nickchios]

But you have to agree that the most famous Laconian phrase is what else....

Molon Labe

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

i love it...... as you can see in my avatar......

[khalifah]

you know, honestly. I did not know that. you learn something everyday i suppose.

wow that is awsome, thanks for sharing.

[sgt_G]

what's that mean?

[boone]

I thought this was going to be U.S. fed cop stories.
Bummer.
PS Pelo*****ia sux

[khalifah]

correct me if im wrong Nickchios, bt it roughly translates to "come and take it"- from my dead hands, etc....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molon_labe

[ronnieraygun]

I thought this was going to be U.S. fed cop stories.
Bummer.
PS Pelo*****ia sux

Pelo*****ia and that one place, Scythia. They have too many dudes with red hair that take pictures of themselves all the time. It's disconcerting.

[Hollis]

But you have to agree that the most famous Laconian phrase is what else....

Molon Labe

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

i love it...... as you can see in my avatar......


Yes, as in my title too. I prefer to fight in the shade too.

[boone]

Pelo*****ia and that one place, Scythia. They have too many dudes with red hair that take pictures of themselves all the time. It's disconcerting.
" Disconcerting" doesn't begin to cover it.
Downright disorderly and confusing.
Wait.......

[sgt_G]

:):) NICE saying indeed!

[rhino]

PS Pelo*****ia sux

thats very laconian

[Nickchios]

Yes, as in my title too. I prefer to fight in the shade too.

Xmmm i noticed.... Also i noticed that you wrote it like the authentic phrase, with all the correct accents:grin:

And you prefer to fight in the shade.....that means you know some details from the epic battle in Thermophiles..:grin::grin: when Dienekis told to Persians....: "Nice, we will fight in the shade"...... because of the many thousands arrows.


correct me if im wrong Nickchios, bt it roughly translates to "come and take it"

You translated correctly....:grin:

[abhedya]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laconic_phrase

every one of em on wiki...

[miguelencanarias]

This is just priceless. From the wikipedia:

"One famous example comes from the time of the invasion of Philip II of Macedon. With key Greek city-states in submission, he turned his attention to Sparta and sent a message: "If I win this war, you will be slaves forever." In another version, Philip proclaims: "You are advised to submit without further delay, for if I bring my army into your land, I will destroy your farms, slay your people, and raze your city." The Spartan ephors sent back a one word reply: "If." Subsequently, both Philip and Alexander would avoid Sparta entirely".

[pocoloco]

This is just priceless. From the wikipedia:

"One famous example comes from the time of the invasion of Philip II of Macedon. With key Greek city-states in submission, he turned his attention to Sparta and sent a message: "If I win this war, you will be slaves forever." In another version, Philip proclaims: "You are advised to submit without further delay, for if I bring my army into your land, I will destroy your farms, slay your people, and raze your city." The Spartan ephors sent back a one word reply: "If." Subsequently, both Philip and Alexander would avoid Sparta entirely".

Effective diplomacy there.

[Nickchios]

Effective diplomacy there.

Yep.... effective diplomacy between Greeks.......sometimes happens :lol:

[G3SG1]

correct me if im wrong Nickchios, bt it roughly translates to "come and take it"- from my dead hands, etc....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molon_labe

The exact meaning is '' Come here being really tired from your effort and take my weapons.

[Stainless Steel Rat]

This is just priceless. From the wikipedia:

"One famous example comes from the time of the invasion of Philip II of Macedon. With key Greek city-states in submission, he turned his attention to Sparta and sent a message: "If I win this war, you will be slaves forever." In another version, Philip proclaims: "You are advised to submit without further delay, for if I bring my army into your land, I will destroy your farms, slay your people, and raze your city." The Spartan ephors sent back a one word reply: "If." Subsequently, both Philip and Alexander would avoid Sparta entirely".


Love it.

Some other laconic military leaders:

As an aside, Admiral Ernest King, Navy CINC during WWII, was famously laconic; reporters often said that if "Ernie" had his way, there would have been one press release during al of WW II and it would have read "We Won".

And of course General McAullife at Bastonge, upon the German call to surrender: "Nuts"

And one of Napoleons' Generals at Waterloo, when called on to surrender: "Merde"

And a Spanish General during Napoleons' time in Spain, called on to surrender the city he was holding or face annihilation: "War to the knife"


Apparenty asking a warrior to surrender brings out the best of laconic sayings.

[Kaplanr]

"Sighted Sub, Sank Same."

Message sent by an enlisted pilot, AMM 1/c Donald Francis Mason, on 28 January 1942. Mason believed that he had sunk a German U-boat off Argentia, Newfoundland.

[Laconian]

I thought this was going to be U.S. fed cop stories.
Bummer.
PS Pelo*****ia sux

Me, too! I'm glad nothing "awkward" turned up.


This is just priceless. From the wikipedia:

"One famous example comes from the time of the invasion of Philip II of Macedon. With key Greek city-states in submission, he turned his attention to Sparta and sent a message: "If I win this war, you will be slaves forever." In another version, Philip proclaims: "You are advised to submit without further delay, for if I bring my army into your land, I will destroy your farms, slay your people, and raze your city." The Spartan ephors sent back a one word reply: "If." Subsequently, both Philip and Alexander would avoid Sparta entirely".

Of the quotations attributed to ancient Sparta, this is my favorite.

BG Anthony McAulliffe's response at Bastogne is also a favorite laconic quotation

[Nickchios]

Me, too! I'm glad nothing "awkward" turned up.
Of the quotations attributed to ancient Sparta, this is my favorite.
BG Anthony McAulliffe's response at Bastogne is also a favorite laconic quotation

Of the nicknames used in our forum...... yours is my favorite :grin::grin:

[glaterza_arg]

Not quite related, but there´s a story about Alexander the Great. When he was young, he had Aristotle as tutor, who taught him a number of subjects, including philosophy. He learnt about Diogenes the cynic. While Alexander was in Corinth, he went to see Diogenens, presented himself as Alexander, King of Macedonia, and that he would grant hin anything he asked.
Diogenes answer was: OK. Stand out of my sunlight.

[WhiskyGolf3]

Not quite related, but there´s a story about Alexander the Great. When he was young, he had Aristotle as tutor, who taught him a number of subjects, including philosophy. He learnt about Diogenes the cynic. While Alexander was in Corinth, he went to see Diogenens, presented himself as Alexander, King of Macedonia, and that he would grant hin anything he asked.
Diogenes answer was: OK. Stand out of my sunlight.
now that i like

[kitatatsumi]

Im surprised this thread did not start out with: *Son, either return with your shield, or upon it*.

[Nickchios]

Im surprised this thread did not start out with: *Son, either return with your shield, or upon it*.

Greatest phrase of a mother to her son just before the fightr......

I TAN I EPI TAS in Greek.

[Sada]

Greatest phrase of a mother to her son just before the fightr......

I TAN I EPI TAS in Greek.
Not a mother to his soldier son but a bullfighter to his mother: "I´ll be success in the arena or I'll dress you in mourning", by Manuel Benítez El Cordobés

[G3SG1]

Not quite related, but there´s a story about Alexander the Great. When he was young, he had Aristotle as tutor, who taught him a number of subjects, including philosophy. He learnt about Diogenes the cynic. While Alexander was in Corinth, he went to see Diogenens, presented himself as Alexander, King of Macedonia, and that he would grant hin anything he asked.
Diogenes answer was: OK. Stand out of my sunlight.


But we never learn the entire dialogue. Diogenes talks with Alexander about the virtues of a true king. Diogenes says:

'' Even if you conquer Asia, even if you conquer Libya ( Africa), even if you conquer the big continent which is larger than Asia and it's located cross the ocean after the Pillars of Hercules....

He means America:) The complete dialogue is saved by Dio Prusaeus

[ancientgrump]

I'm rather fond of Charles James Napier's message back to HQ after being sent to subdue a rebellion in Sindh:

Peccavi

Latin for "I have sinned"

[Stainless Steel Rat]

One other I just remembered.

After the first day of the Battle of Shiloh (aka Pittsburg Landing, April, 1862) of the American civil War, the Federals were in dire straits, having been driven back 4 miles, losing all their camps and having suffered over 10,000 casulties. General W.T. Sherman, then a brigadier and commander of a division, met the Army commander and stated bluntly that "we sure got whipped today". His commander responded in true laconic fashion:


Yep. whip 'em tommorow, though.

And that is why Ulysess Simpson Grant is one of the great generals in American history.

[hatchet_harry]

during the congo crisis in 1961, irish un-troops were besieged in jadotville. message to their headquarters:

We will hold out until our last bullet is spent. Could do with some whiskey

[Sekretto]

"Hard pressed on my right. My center is yielding. Impossible to maneuver. Situation excellent. I am attacking!" FERDINAND FOCH

[sgt_G]

Dunno if this qualifies as a Laconian style quote but I think its fitting:


"We’re surrounded. That simplifies our problem." — Chesty Puller, November 1950, during the Chosin Reservoir campaign

[SEVERVS]

But you have to agree that the most famous Laconian phrase is what else....

Molon Labe

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

i love it...... as you can see in my avatar......



Well, in ancient Greece the phrase "MOLON LAVE" is said to have meant the equivalent of "Suck my d***" (accompanied by a gesture to the groin). As a sign of the contempt Spartans felt towards Persians. Apparently this phrase was in widespread use just as it is today. The translation to "Come and get them!" was made amongst polite 19th century society for general public consumption.

[miguelencanarias]

While the following is fiction (extracted from a movie based in Arturo Pérez-Reverte's Capitán Alatriste series), it summarizes the laconian spirit of the Spanish Tercios viejos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tercio), a military formation from a long gone era.

At the battle of Rocroi, a battered Tercio that has repelled several assaults is addressed by an emissary under a flag of truce:

- "His Excellency the Duke of Enghien admires your gallantry and offers you a honorable surrender and safe passage."

The Spanish officer replies:

- "Tell His Excellency that we thank him for his offer... but this is a Spanish tercio."

Then he shrugs his shoulders and turns around to resume his position along his men. An Old Tercio does not surrender.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aByhX4E8Wrk