Laudator Temporis Acti

Sextus, Sentences 324 (tr. Walter T. Wilson):

It would be best for there to be no such thing as a murderous weapon, but since there is, do not consider it to be for you.

σίδηρον ἀνδροφόνον ἄριστον μὲν ἦν μὴ γενέσθαι, γενόμενον δὲ σοὶ μὴ νόμιζε εἶναι.

ferrum quo homines interimuntur optimum quidem fuerat non fieri, factum tamen apud te non sit.

Pseudo-Phocylides, Sentences 32-34 (tr. Walter T. Wilson):

Gird on your sword not for murder but for defense.
But may you not need it at all, unlawfully or justly.
For if you slay a foe, you stain your hand.

τὸ ξίφος ἀμφιβαλοῦ μὴ πρὸς φόνον, ἀλλ' ἐς ἄμυναν.
εἴθε δὲ μὴ χρῄζοις μήτ' ἔκνομα μήτε δικαίως·
ἢν γὰρ ἀποκτείνῃς ἐχθρόν, σέο χείρα μιαίνεις.

Valerius Maximus 2.6.9 (tr. D.R. Shackleton Bailey):

However, to return to the Massilian community from which I strayed into this digression, none may enter their town with a weapon. A person is in attendance to take such for safe keeping and return it to its owner as he leaves. So their hospitality is both kindly to strangers and safe for themselves.

sed ut ad Massiliensium civitatem, unde in hoc deverticulum excessi, revertar, intrare oppidum eorum nulli cum telo licet, praestoque est qui id custodiae gratia acceptum exituro reddat, ut hospitia sua, quemadmodum advenientibus humana sunt, ita ipsis quoque tuta sint.

Herodotus 1.155.4 (speech of Croesus to Cyrus, tr. Aubrey de Selincourt):

As for the Lydians, forgive them—but all the same, if you want to keep them loyal and to prevent any danger from them in future, I suggest that you put a veto upon their possession of arms. Make them wear tunics under their cloaks, and high boots, and tell them to teach their sons to play the zither and harp, and to start shopkeeping. If you do that, my lord, you will soon see them turn into women instead of men, and there will not be any more danger of them rebelling against you.

Λυδοῖσι δὲ συγγνώμην ἔχων τάδε αὐτοῖσι ἐπίταξον, ὡς μήτε ἀποστέωσι μήτε δεινοί τοι ἔωσι· ἄπειπε μέν σφι πέμψας ὅπλα ἀρήια μὴ ἐκτῆσθαι, κέλευε δὲ σφέας κιθῶνάς τε ὑποδύνειν τοῖσι εἵμασι καὶ κοθόρνους ὑποδέεσθαι, πρόειπε δ᾽ αὐτοῖσι κιθαρίζειν τε καὶ ψάλλειν καὶ καπηλεύειν παιδεύειν τοὺς παῖδας. καὶ ταχέως σφέας ὦ βασιλεῦ γυναῖκας ἀντ᾽ ἀνδρῶν ὄψεαι γεγονότας, ὥστε οὐδὲν δεινοί τοι ἔσονται μὴ ἀποστέωσι.