All of us alike are told to obey our leaders, and he who obeys most frankly never fails to meet with honour at the hands of Cyrus.

Valour is no longer the privilege of one class alone: it has become the fairest prize that can fall to the lot of any man.

[9] And to-day a battle is before us where no man need teach us how to fight: we have the trick of it by nature, as a bull knows how to use his horns, or a horse his hoofs, or a dog his teeth, or a wild boar his tusks.

The animals know well enough," he added, "when and where to guard themselves: they need no master to tell them that.

[10] I myself, when I was a little lad, I knew by instinct how to shield myself from the blow I saw descending: if I had nothing else, I had my two fists, and used them with all my force against my foe: no one taught me how to do it, on the contrary they beat me if they saw me clench my fists.