Parable of The Laconic Spartan - HH.Sivananda

Parable of The Laconic Spartan

In the ancient Greece there was a tribe called the Spartans. They were a very brave people, very simple in their habits, who never boasted about themselves. The valour of the Spartans was a legend all around their country. When a Spartan said that he would do something, people knew that he would rather die than fail to do that. The place where they lived was called Laconia. So they were called Lacons. One of the injunctions of their ruler was: "Be brief, clear and accurate in what you say. Do not be vague, and do not waste unnecessary words in trying to say what you do not know. If you do not know a thing say so. If you want to do a thing, do not boast about it until you have accomplished it."

The people of Laconia were as obedient to their ruler as they were brave in the battle-field. In fact when asked a question, a Lacon's answer would be so brief and to the point that even to this day when a statement is succinct, it is called "laconic." Now to illustrate the point, there is a story. In northern Greece, King Philip, father of Alexander the Great, ruled over a territory called Macedonia. Philip wanted to conquer the entire Greece. So he raised an army of several legions and invaded many neighbouring states. Then he sent a note to the ruler of Spartans asking him to accept his sovereignty over Laconia. At the same time, he warned that if the Spartans failed to obey, his army would destroy them.

King Philip received the answer in a short while. The letter of the Spartan ruler contained only one word. The word was "If." It meant that the Spartans were not afraid of his army and that King Philip could carry out his threat only "if" his army was allowed to enter into Laconia by the gallant Lacons.

The world is full of vainglorious people. There is no dearth of gossipers. Practical people never indulge in boasting about their work. They speak less and work more. They never promise or swear but do what is expected of them. They do not spread false rumours and fabricate facts. Talebearing is unknown to them. Vanity never clouds their reason. They avoid confusion by speaking less and by not listening to gossips. Hence their decisions are forthright and unswerving. The ancient people of Laconia present a fine example for emulation.