«Πάταξον μεν, άκουσον δε» = “Strike me, but listen to me”.
The answer Themistocles gave Evriviades (the Spartan general) before the navy battle at Salamis. All the other generals insisted that the battle should take place out in the open, but Themistocles insisted they should fight at Salamis. Evriviades tried to strike him with his cane thought he was being stubborn but he was impressed by his answer and agreed to his plan. As for the other Greek generals, in order to follow his plan, Themistocles threaten them by saying that if they didn’t follow his plan, he would take the Athenian fleet, and establish a new Athens in Magna Grecia (southern Italy).
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