Laudator Temporis Acti

J.P.V.D. Balsdon, Romans and Aliens (London: Duckworth, 1979), pp. 39-40, with note on p. 267:

Greeks themselves, of course, in their compartmentalised city-state existence, had never been uncritical of other Greeks. A Rhodian, representative of a state which in less troubled times was the object of widespread admiration, had said in the Senate in 167 BC, 'Some people are irascible, some headstrong, others pusillanimous. Some drink too much and some are over-sexed. The Athenians are traditionally impetuous and indulge in bold enterprises which are beyond their power; Spartans procrastinate. Nor can I deny that, as a whole, Greeks living in western Asia Minor are empty-headed and that we open our mouths far too wide.'

Even between neighbouring cities there were wide diversities. 'The Boeotians say that greed lies in Oropus, envy in Tanagra, quarrelsomeness in Thespiae, insolence in Thebes, covetousness in Anthedon, curiosity in Coronea, braggadocio in Plataea, fever in Onchestus, stupidity in Haliartus.' This was perhaps written in the second half of the third century BC or in the second.⁵⁷

57. L. 45, 23, 14-16; FHG II, 59, 25, p. 260 (and Geog. Gr. Min. 1, p. 104), a fragment, probably, of Heracleides Criticus (RE VIII, 484-6, no. 46). 484-6, no.46).

Livy 45.23.14-16:

gentes quoque aliae iracundae, aliae audaces, quaedam timidae, in uinum, in Venerem proniores aliae sunt. Atheniensium populum fama est celerem et supra vires audacem esse ad conandum, Lacedaemoniorum cunctatorem et vix in ea, quibus fidit, ingredientem. non negaverim et totam Asiae regionem inaniora parere ingenia, et nostrorum tumidiorem sermonem esse.

Heracleides Criticus, fragment 1, § 25:

ἱστοροῦσι δ' οἱ Βοιωτοὶ τὰ κατ' αὐτοὺς ὑπάρχοντα ἴδια ἀκληρήματα λέγοντες ταῦτα· τὴν μὲν αἰσχροκέρδειαν κατοικεῖν ἐν Ὠρωπῷ, τὸν δὲ φθόνον ἐν Τανάγρᾳ, τὴν φιλονεικίαν ἐν Θεσπιαῖς, τὴν ὕβριν ἐν Θήβαις, τὴν πλεονεξίαν ἐν Ἀνθηδόνι, τὴν περιεργίαν ἐν Κορωνεία, ἐν Πλαταιαῖς τὴν ἀλαζονείαν, τὸν πυρετὸν ἐν Ὀγχηστῷ, τὴν ἀναισθησίαν ἐν Ἁλιάρτῳ.