Dionysius II: always ready with a snappy comeback.

>At another time, when one of those pleasant companions that are desirous to pass for wits, in mockery to [Dionysius](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Damocles-WestallPC20080120-8842A.jpg), as if he were still the tyrant, shook out the folds of his cloak, as he was entering into a room where he was, to show there were no concealed weapons about him, Dionysius, by way of retort, observed, that he would prefer he would do so on leaving the room, as a security that he was carrying nothing off with him. _________________________________ **tl;dr:** Dionysius II, the deposed tyrant of Syracuse living in exile, had a friend visit him, who made gestures upon entering as if he were showing Dionysius that he was not hiding a weapon on him, obviously poking fun at how Dionysius was no longer a tyrant of Syracuse. In response, Dionysius says he’d rather the guy did the same when he left, so he knew the guy wasn’t stealing stuff during his visits. __________________________________ **Source:** Plutarch, John Dryden, and Arthur Hugh Clough. "Timoleon." *Plutarch's Lives*. New York: Modern Library, 2001. 337. Print. __________________________________ **Further Reading:** [Dionysius II of Syracuse / Dionysius the Younger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysius_II_of_Syracuse)