Of their aversion to long speeches, the following apophthegms are proof. King Leonidas, when a certain one discoursed with him out of all season on matters of great concern, said:
‘My friend, the matter urges, but not the time.’ Charilaüs, the nephew of Lycurgus, when asked why his uncle had made so few laws, answered:
‘Men of few words need few laws.’
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