2.24
The Thasians, as he was marching through their country with his army, sent to him flour, geese, sweetmeats, honey-cakes, and other costly foods and drinks of all kinds. The flour alone he accepted, but the rest of the things he bade those who had brought them to carry back because these were of no use to the Spartans. But when the Thasians importuned him and begged him by all means to take all, he gave orders to distribute them among the Helots. And when the Thasians inquired the reason, he said, It is not in keeping that those who practise manly virtues should indulge in such gormandizing, for things that allure the servile crowd are alien to free men. Cf. Plutarch’s Life of Agesilaus, chap. xxxvi. (616 F), where the scene is laid in Egypt, as also in Cornelius Nepos, xvii., Agesilaus, 8. 3-4. The story is found also in Athenaeus, 657 B and in Aelian, Varia Historia, iii. 20, where it is told of Lysander.
2.25
At another time the Thasians, because of a feeling that they had been greatly befriended by him, honoured him with temples and deifications, and also sent an embassy to inform him of their action. When he had read the honours which the ambassadors proffered to him, he asked if their country had the power to deify men; and when they answered in the affirmative, he said, Go to; make gods of yourselves first, and if you can accomplish this, then will I believe that you will be able to make a god of me also.
2.26
When the Greek peoples of Asia voted to erect statues of him in their most prominent cities, he wrote to them: Let there be no image of me painted or sculptured or constructed. Cf. Moralia, 191 D, supra, and the note. By constructed he probably refers to the gold and ivory statues which were common among the Greeks.