Friday, June 26th, 2009. Laconic.
A laconic statement is a very succint, terse phrase. The term derives from the Greek Lakōnikos which is derived from Lakōn, “a Laconian, a person from Lacedaemon,” the name for the region of Greece of which Sparta was the capital. As a derivation, a laconism is a figure of speech in which someone uses very few words to express an idea, in keeping with the Spartan reputation for austerity
Adding to their reputation of their sternest discipline and ardour for action, the Spartans attended since they entered the agoge a careful instruction in mathematics, music and verse, being rigorously punished when they failed to master wit and rethoric.
After the agoge, young Spartans sought to be admitted into public mess halls divided into tables of fifteen me where they learned how to talk politely and to the point like men. Especial importance was giving to habits of grace and good-breeding in conversation, encouraging frankness and accepting jokes with good humour.
The Spartan public educational system, the agoge, was admired almost universally by contemporaries, from historians such as Herodotus and Xenophon to philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. The pertinence and sharpness of Spartan wit were so widely admired that ancient Greek scholars collected “Spartan sayings” and the “Laconic” style of speech was studied and imitated in intellectual circles, carrying Plutarch as far as to claim that devotion to the intellect is more characteristic of Sparta than love of physical exercise.
There are other two traits in Spartan conduct that makes it hard not to admire their hars, strenous lives of cruel freedom: First, humour was so important in Spartan life that it was the common tactic to gently shame anyone who did not conform to their rueles. Spartans went as far as to discern a good sense of humor as one of the criteria to select their leaders. Second, they found repugnance in defiling good manners or grace.
Here there are some magnific samples:
- A witticism attributed to Lycurgus, the legendary lawgiver of Sparta, was a response to a proposal to set up a democracy there: “Begin with your own family.” (Plutarch: Life of Lycurgus).
- Also from Herodotus: “When the banished Samians reached Sparta, they had audience of the magistrates, before whom they made a long speech, as was natural with persons greatly in want of aid. Accordingly at this first sitting the Spartans answered them that they had forgotten the first half of their speech, and could make nothing of the remainder. Afterwards the Samians had another audience, whereat they simply said, showing a bag which they had brought with them, ‘The bag wants flour.’ The Spartans answered that they did not need to have said ‘the bag’; however, they resolved to give them aid.” (Herodotus The Histories, Book 3, section 46).
- 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.” Both Philip and Alexander would subsequently avoid Sparta at all. (Garland, Robert, 1998-08-30. Daily Life of the Ancient Greeks. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. page 81).
[Ignacio Wenley Palacios]
in History, Quotes
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