Adage Origin: An Army of Stags Led by a Lion Is More Formidable Than an Army of Lions Led by a Stag

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Plutarch? Chabrias? Julius Caesar? Philip of Macedon? Iphicrates? Napoleon Bonaparte? Daniel Defoe?

Statue of a lion outside of the Utah State Capitol from Unsplash

Question for Quote Investigator: The quality of the members of an organization is important, but the leadership is decisive to achieving success. Here are two versions of a pertinent adage:

(1) An army of sheep commanded by a lion is more formidable than an army of lions commanded by a sheep.

(2) An army of donkeys led by a lion is vastly superior to an army of lions led by a donkey.

A variety of animal names appear in different versions of this template including: stags, harts, deer, sheep, donkeys, asses, and jackasses. Apparently, this saying is ancient. Would you please explore its provenance?

Reply from Quote Investigator: The saying appeared in the collection “Moralia” by the Greek philosopher Plutarch who died in AD 119. The Athenian general Chabrias who died in 357 BC received credit. Here is an English translation by scholar Frank Cole Babbitt from 1931. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:1

He was wont to say that an army of deer commanded by a lion is more to be feared than an army of lions commanded by a deer.

Many others have been credited with instances of this saying including Roman leader Julius Caesar, Philip of Macedon, and Athenian general Iphicrates.

Here is an overview based on early appearances of instances in Latin or English:

1544: Dictitare etiam solebat, formidabiliorem esse cervoru exercitum duce leone, quàm leonum cervo imperate (Attributed to Chabrias by Plutarch)

1544: (Translation into English from Latin) He also used to say that an army of stags led by a lion is more formidable than lions commanded by a stag (Attributed to Chabrias by Plutarch)

1563: Rather an army of harts, under the conduct of a Lion, then of Lions, conducted by a hart (Attributed to Philip, probably Philip II of Macedon)

1644: An Army of Harts led by a Lion, is better then an Army of Lions led by a Hart (Anonymous)

1655: There is greater hope of a herd of Harts led by a Lion, then of so many Lions conducted by a Hart (Julius Caesar by translator Clement Edmonds Esquire)

1658: An army of valiant Lions led by a cowardly Hart, is not so prevalent as an army of Harts led by a Lion (John Jones comment on Ovid)

1673: An Army of Harts, with a Lion to their Captain, would be able to vanquish an Army of Lions, if their Captain were but an Hart (Attributed to Iphicrates)

1683: He esteemed more an Army of Deer, commanded by a Lion, than an Army of Lions, commanded by a Deer (Attributed to Chabrias by Plutarch)

1736: An Army of Sheep, headed by a Lyon, is more to be apprehended, than an Army of Lyons headed by a Sheep (Anonymous saying used by Henry Stonecastle)

1743: Better to have a Lyon at the Head of an Army of Sheep, than a Sheep at the Head of an Army of Lyons (Anonymous proverb in a work credited to Daniel Defoe)

1803: An army of stags is more to be feared under the command of a lion, than an army of lions led by a stag (Anonymous Latin Proverb)

1823: An army of deer commanded by a lion is better than an army of lions commanded by a deer (Attributed to an unnamed Athenian general by Napoleon Bonaparte)

1855: An army of lions led on by donkeys (Attributed to an anonymous Russian)

1856: An army of lions led by jackasses (Attributed to John Arthur Roebuck by Lord Palmerston)

1864: An army of asses led by a lion is vastly superior to an army of lions led by an ass (Anonymous)

1887: An army of jackasses led by a lion will defeat an army of lions led by a jackass (Persian proverb)

1904: Rather have an army of donkeys with a lion for a leader, than an army of lions with a donkey for a leader (Attributed to Napoleon)

Below are details for selected citations in chronological order.

In 1544 a collection of moral essays ascribed to Plutarch included an instance of the saying in Latin attributed to Chabrias:2

Dictitare etiam solebat, formidabiliorem esse cervoru exercitum duce leone, quàm leonum cervo imperate.

Here is one possible translation into English:

He also used to say that an army of stags led by a lion is more formidable than lions commanded by a stag.

In 1563 the book “The nobles or of Nobilitye” included the following passage which attributed the saying to Philip which was probably a reference to Philip of Macedon:3

For, without a Captaine, an army is (as said Epammondas) as a faier beast. and Philip, those rather an army of harts, under the conduct of a Lion, then of Lions, conducted by a hart. For, the chiefe parte of warlike successe, consisteth in a stout and polytike captaine.

In 1644 “The Souldiers Catechisme” printed the following instance with the word “than” spelled as “then”:4

An Army of Harts led by a Lion, is better then an Army of Lions led by a Hart.

In 1655 “The Commentaries of C. Julius Caesar of his Warres in Gallia” contained an instance. The translation was performed by Clement Edmonds Esquire:5

. . . nothing doth make a greater difference of inequality between two equall Armies, then the wisedome and experience of a grave Commander, or the disability of an unskilfull Leader; which are so powerfull in their several effects, that there is greater hope of a herd of Harts led by a Lion, then of so many Lions conducted by a Hart.

In 1658 translator John Jones published “Ovid’s Invective or Curse against Ibis” which contained Ovid’s poem together with commentary. The saying appeared in the commentary:6

An army of valiant Lions led by a cowardly Hart, is not so prevalent as an army of Harts led by a Lion. Like Captain, like company.

In 1673 “Golden Remains, of the Ever Memorable, Mr. John Hales, of Eaton Colledge” contained an instance attributed to the Athenian general Iphicrates:7

It was the Parable of Iphicrates, that an Army of Harts, with a Lion to their Captain, would be able to vanquish an Army of Lions, if their Captain were but an Hart.

In 1683 “The Apophthegmes of the Ancients” included an instance from Plutarch attributed to Chabrias:8

Chabrias affirmed, the fittest to command, were those that best knew the Enemy.

He likewise acknowledged, That he esteemed more an Army of Deer, commanded by a Lion, than an Army of Lions, commanded by a Deer, to shew of what importance a good General is, not so much for Valour as for Conduct and Discipline.

In 1736 “The Universal Spectator” of London published a piece by Henry Stonecastle, a pseudonym of Henry Baker, which included this instance:9

They say, an Army of Sheep, headed by a Lyon, is more to be apprehended, than an Army of Lyons headed by a Sheep.

In 1743 “The Life and Entertaining Adventures of Mrs. Christian Davies” contained an instance. This work has been credited to the famous English writer Daniel Defoe although the attribution is disputed:10

. . . which puts me in mind of a Proverb, That it is better to have a Lyon at the Head of an Army of Sheep, than a Sheep at the Head of an Army of Lyons.

In 1803 “A Dictionary of Quotations” edited by D. E. MacDonnel contained an anonymous Latin proverb:11

Formidabilior cervorum exercitus, duce leone, quam leonum cervo. Lat. Prov.—“An army of stags is more to be feared under the command of a lion, than an army of lions led by a stag.”—A proverb which intimates that less depends on the discipline or valour of an army than on the skill and ability of its general.

In 1823 “Memoirs of the History of France During the Reign of Napoleon: Dictated by the Emperor at Saint Helena” was published, and Napoleon Bonaparte ascribed the saying to an unnamed Athenian general:12

It is probable that if peace had not been concluded, this weak general would soon have evacuated Hesse, and retreated precipitately on the Mein, making good the saying of the Athenian general: That an army of deer commanded by a lion is better than an army of lions commanded by a deer.

In 1855 “The Daily News” of London printed a remark from an anonymous Russian about the British army during the Crimean War. This remark was one-half of the saying under examination:13

In view of the melancholy bungle made by our generals, at all events, in the calamitous attempt of this day week, well may the Russians say—as was remarked by one of them on the day of truce after—that we “are an army of lions led on by donkeys!”

In 1856 British statesman Lord Palmerston delivered a speech in the U.K. Parliament  during which he referred to a remark by British politician John Arthur Roebuck which described the British army during the Crimean War:14

He recollected what had been said of it—that it was an army of lions, led by jackasses. That expression, he thought, accurately described our army.

In 1864 “The United States Service Magazine” of New York printed an instance with an anonymous attribution:15

Washington fully appreciated the saying “that an army of asses led by a lion is vastly superior to an army of lions led by an ass:” hence his solicitude, to the day of his death, to see established a national school for the education of officers.

In 1887 the “Locomotive Engineers’ Monthly Journal” printed an instance:16

Well, there is an old Persian proverb that an army of jackasses led by a lion will defeat an army of lions led by a jackass.

In 1904 “The Home Missionary” journal of New York attributed the saying to Napoleon:17

You may have read that pointed saying of Napoleon, that he would rather have an army of donkeys with a lion for a leader, than an army of lions with a donkey for a leader.

In 1948 “The Macmillan Book Of Proverbs” edited by Burton Stevenson presented instances in English, Greek, and Latin:18

An army of stags led by a lion is more formidable than an army of lions led by a stag.
(Φοβερώτερόν έστιν έλάφων στρατόπεδον ήγουμένου λέοντας ή λεόντων ελάφου.)
Plutarch, Chabriae Apophthegmata. (C. A. D. 95) The Latin is, “Formidabilior cervorum exercitus, duce leone, quam leonum cervo.”

In conclusion, there are many different versions of this adage based on animals such as stags, sheep, and donkeys. The ancient Greek philosopher and historian attributed the saying to Athenian general Chabrias. The listing above shows other candidates such as Julius Caesar. There is substantive evidence that Napoleon Bonaparte employed the saying, but he credited an unnamed Athenian general.

Image Notes: Statue of a lion outside of the Utah State Capitol from Andy Bodemer at Unsplash. The image has been cropped and resized.

Acknowledgement: Great thanks to Jonathan Lighter and Harry Siegel whose inquiries led QI to formulate this question and perform this exploration. Special thanks to James Eric Lawson, Jonathan Lighter, and Dave Wilton who located valuable citations and shared them with QI. Also, thanks to quotation expert Nigel Rees for his previous research in “Brewer’s Famous Quotations”. All errors are the responsibility of QI.

  1. 1968 (First printed 1931), Plutarch’s Moralia by Plutarch, Volume 3 of 15, Translated by Frank Cole Babbitt (Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut), Series: The Loeb Classical Library, Chapter: Sayings of Kings and Commanders, Person: Chabrias, Quote Page 107, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Verified with scans) ↩︎
  2. 1544 (MDXLIIII), Title: Plutarchi: Chaeronei, Philosophi & Historici
    Gravissimi, Ethica, seu Moralia Opuscula (Plutarch: Charoneus,
    Philosopher & Historian Most Important, Ethical, or Moral Essays),
    Sub-section: Chabrias,  Quote Page 88, Publication: Imprimebat Michaël Vascosanus sibi, & Geoloto à Prato, Parisiis. (Google Books Full View) link ↩︎
  3. 1563, Book Title: The nobles or of Nobilitye. The original nature, dutyes, right, and Christian institucion thereof three bookes, Author: Laurence Humphrey (1525-1589), Section The Second Book of Nobility -Book 2, Unnumbered page, Publication: Imprinted at London In Fletestrete nere to S. Dunstons church by Thomas Marshe. (EEBO Early English Books Online 2) link ↩︎
  4. 1644, The Souldiers Catechisme: Composed for the Parliaments Army, Quote Page 22, Imprimatur Ja. Cranford, Printed for J. Wright, London. (Google Books Full View) link ↩︎
  5. Date: 1655, Title: The Commentaries of C. Julius Caesar of his Warres in Gallia, and the civil warres betwixt him and Pompey, Author: Julius Caesar, Translator: Clement Edmonds Esquire, Chapter XIII: The Romans cast themselves into an Orbe, and are much discouraged, Section: The Third Observation, Quote Page 117, Publisher: Printed by R. Daniel and are to be sold by Henry Tvvyford, London. (Early English Books Online) link ↩︎
  6. 1658, Title: Ovid’s Invective or Curse against Ibis, Author: Ovid, Translator: John Jones, (Commentary on the poem), Quote Page 52, Publication: Printed by J.G. for Ric. Davis in Oxon, London. (ProQuest and Early English Books Online EEBO) ↩︎
  7. 1673, Golden Remains, of the Ever Memorable, Mr. John
    Hales, of Eaton Colledge, Second Impression, Chapter: Christian Omnipotency, Quote Page 115, Printed by Thomas Newcomb for Robert Pawlet, London. (HathiTrust Full View) link ↩︎
  8. 1683, The Apophthegmes of the Ancients Taken Out of Plutarch, Diogenes Laertius, Elian, Atheneus, Stobeus, Macrobius and others, Edited by John Bulteel, Quote Page 49, Printed for William Cademan, London. (Internet Archive) link ↩︎
  9. 1736, The Universal Spectator, Volume 1, From my House in the Minories by Henry Stonecastle (Henry Baker), Start Page 266, Quote Page 266, Printed for J. Pemberton, A. Ward, E. Symon, London. (Google Books Full View) link ↩︎
  10. 1743, The Life and Entertaining Adventures of Mrs. Christian Davies, Commonly attributed to Daniel Defoe, attribution is now disputed, Quote Page 33, Published in London. (Google Books Full View) link ↩︎
  11. 1803, A Dictionary of Quotations, In Most Frequent Use, Taken Chiefly from Latin and French, Translated into English, Edited by D. E. MacDonnel of the Middle Temple, Fourth Edition: Revised and Enlarged, Quote Page F2, Printed for G. and J. Robinson, London. (Google Books Full View) link ↩︎
  12. 1823, Memoirs of the History of France During the Reign of Napoleon: Dictated by the Emperor at Saint Helena to the Generals Who Shared His Captivity and Published from the Original Manuscripts Corrected by Himself, Dictated to the Count de Montholon, Volume 3: Historical Miscellanies, Part: Review of the Wars of Frederic II, Chapter 8: Campaign of 1762, Quote Page 312, Printed for Henry Colburn and Company, London. (Google Books Full View) link ↩︎
  13. 1855 July 9, The Daily News, Our Army in the Crimea (From a Special Correspondent), Location: Camp Before Sebastopol, Date: June 25, Quote Page 5, Column 5, London, England. (Newspapers_com) ↩︎
  14. 1856, Hansard’s Parliamentary Debates, Third Series, Date: January 31, 1856, Speaker: Viscount Palmerston, Column Number 80, Published by Cornelius Buck, London. (Google Books Full View) link ↩︎
  15. 1864 August, The United States Service Magazine, Volume 2, Number, 2, Jomini’s Life of Napoleon (Review of “Life of Napoleon” by Baron Jomini), Start Page 125, Quote Page 132, Charles B. Richardson, New York. (Google Books Full View) link ↩︎
  16. 1887 August, Locomotive Engineers’ Monthly Journal, Volume 21, Number 8, Union Meeting at Fargo, Speaker: Mr. L. A. Rose, Quote Page 599, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, U.S. (Google Books Full View) link ↩︎
  17. 1904 May, The Home Missionary, Volume 78, Number 2, Section: Young People’s Department, Letters To a Missionary Committee, Start Page 64, Quote Page 65, Column 1, Congregational Home Missionary Society, New York. (Google Books Full View) link ↩︎
  18. 1948, The Macmillan Book Of Proverbs, Maxims, And Famous Phrases, Selected and Arranged by Burton Stevenson, Topic: Leader, Quote Page 1373, The Macmillan Company, New York. (Verified with scans) ↩︎
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