只有一个字的回信
类别：智慧
面对强大的威胁，斯巴达人用一个字的有力回击化解危机，展现言简意赅的力量。
时长 53 秒 · 语速 169 wpm
字幕原文
The Spartans of ancient Greece were famous for two things. 古希腊的斯巴达人以两件事出名。
They were fearless soldiers, and they hated wasting words. 他们打起仗来不要命，而且极度讨厌废话。
Their land was called Laconia. 他们生活的地方叫拉科尼亚。
That's why, even today, we call a very short answer "laconic." 所以直到今天，英文里还会用“laconic”（拉科尼亚风格的）来形容简短有力的回答。
In the north of Greece, there was a king named Philip, 在希腊北部，有一位叫腓力的国王，
the father of Alexander the Great. 也就是亚历山大大帝的父亲。
He wanted to rule the whole country. 他一心想统一整个希腊。
One by one, the Greek cities gave in to his army. 希腊的城邦一个接一个地向他的大军屈服了。
Finally, only Sparta was left. 最后，只剩下了斯巴达。
So Philip sent the Spartans a letter. 于是，腓力给斯巴达人送去了一封信。
"If I enter your country," he wrote, 他在信里写道：“要是我踏进你们的国土，
"I will destroy your city completely." 我就把你们的城市彻底夷为平地。”
A few days later, their answer arrived. 几天后，斯巴达人的回信送到了。
Philip opened it. 腓力拆开信。
There was one word on the page. 纸上只写了一个词：
"If." “要是。”
Philip never did attack Sparta. 腓力最终也没敢进攻斯巴达。
And more than two thousand years later, people still quote that reply. 两千多年过去了，人们依然对这句回复津津乐道。
It's worth remembering the next time you write a long, angry message. 下次你想长篇大论发脾气的时候，不妨想想这个故事。
The shortest answer is sometimes the strongest. 最简短的回答，往往也是最有力量的。
所属专辑：五十个著名故事 · 古希腊罗马（Fifty Famous Stories）