Diodorus Siculus

“ On the other hand you fight at sea, not with any hopes to gain the sovereignty at land, but to preserve yourselves from utter destruction. Now it remains that I give you satisfaction, why, when we thus far excel you in feats of arms, we should sue to you for peace. In truth, though I cannot say that Sparta has gained any thing by this war, yet I dare affirm their damage has not been so great as that of the Athenians. But it is the height of folly to take pleasure in common calamities, because our enemies are fellow sufferers ”

“ For our use all Peloponnesus is improved and sowed, but of Attica, which is not so large, you have but a part in tillage: this war has brought over many confederates to the Laconians; on the contrary, the Athenians have lost as many as we have gained. The richest king of the world maintains our armies, but you force the charge of the war from the poorest of the nations. ”

“ But it is not for these reasons only that we desire to put an end to the war, but we are prompted hereunto by the custom of our country; for when we saw by these wars so many horrid murders, and so much blood lamentably shed, we conceived it our duty to make it manifest both to the gods and men, that we are the least concerned in the causing of it. When the Laconian had spoken this and some other things to the like effect, the more moderate of the Athenians were inclined to peace ”