1. Not with the stones of Eubœa and Sparta let the structure of your city walls be variegated; but let the discipline and teaching that comes from Greece penetrate with order the minds of citizens and statesmen. For with the thoughts of men are cities well established, and not with wood and stone.
1. Do not decorate your city walls with colorful stones from Euboea and Sparta. Instead, let Greek discipline and teaching bring order to the minds of citizens and statesmen. For cities are firmly established by people’s thoughts, not by wood and stone.
2. If thou wouldst have a household well established, then follow the example of the Spartan Lycurgus. For even as he did not fence the city with walls, but fortified the inhabitants with virtue, and so preserved the city free for ever, thus do thou not surround thyself with a great court and set up lofty towers, but confirm the dwellers in the house with good-will, and faith, and friendliness, and no harmful thing shall enter; no, not if the whole army of evil were arrayed against it.
2. If you want a secure household, follow the example of Lycurgus of Sparta. He did not surround the city with walls. Instead, he strengthened its people with virtue and so kept the city free forever. Likewise, do not surround yourself with a grand courtyard or build high towers. Instead, strengthen those in your house with goodwill, trustworthiness, and friendliness. Then nothing harmful will enter, even if the whole army of evil is lined up against it.
3. Which of us will not admire Lycurgus, the Lacedæmonian? For having lost an eye at the hands of one of the citizens, and having received the young man from the people that he should punish him as he would, he refrained from this; but having taught him and proved him to be a good man, he brought him into the theater. And when the Lacedæmonians marveled, I received this man from you, he said, insolent and violent; I give him back to you mild and civil.
3. Who among us would not admire Lycurgus the Spartan? A young citizen struck him and cost him an eye. The people handed the young man over to Lycurgus to punish as he wished. But Lycurgus chose not to punish him. Instead, he taught him and made him a good man, then brought him into the theater. When the Spartans expressed their amazement, he said, I received this man from you rude and violent. I give him back to you gentle and respectful.