Alan (the Lone Librarian) Teder’s Reviews > Troy: The Greek Myths Reimagined > Status Update

‘It is a wonderful idea!’ said Priam. ‘... You’re a good boy Paris, and I bless the day you were restored to us.’
But Paris was not a good boy. He had no intention of sailing to Salamis to negotiate the return of some old aunt for whom he cared nothing. What was Hesione to him, or him to Hesione? Aphrodite had whispered his true destination. Sparta and the promised Helen.
No, Paris was not a good boy.

There is a story that Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, besieged the city and threatened them thus: "If I defeat you, we will raze your city to the ground, we will kill every man and boy in the city and take every woman and girl into slavery."
The Spartans sent a one word reply: "If."
This is often thought to be the original laconic reply.