Last week, I watched the film 300. It was kind of an accident because I just wanted to see how the first few scenes looked (okay) but then I just kept watching it. I enjoyed it. It's based on a graphic novel around The Battle of Thermopylae. I was reading about the battle on Wikipedia and hit this quote:

"Good heavens! Mardonius, what kind of men are these against whom you have brought us to fight? Men who do not compete for money, but for honor"

(from Battle of Thermopylae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.)

Some takeaways for me:

• I'd love a dose of Spartan culture in our culture. For many it's too indulgent and too entitled.
• Another meditation on sacrifice: Articles of Faith Our culture's slouch toward sloth not whole story.
• I have totally missed out on knowing about this battle and all the pop-culture references. That makes me sad.
• When Queen Gorgo sends off King Leonidas with the farewell, "Spartan! Come back with your shield - or on it," it reminded me of an illuminate quote of Heinlein's Lazarus Long:
• "… Roman matrons used to say to their sons: 'Come back with your shield, or on it.' Later on, this custom declined. So did Rome."

I think about that last quote a lot and what it means to be in a state of decline.