His men ate the lotus and lost all desire to return. He dragged them back to the ships by force. The oldest story about comfort as a trap, and the hardest kind of leadership.
The Lotus Eaters weren't hostile. That's what made them dangerous. They offered food, hospitality, and a flower that made you forget everything you came from and everywhere you were going. Odysseus's men ate it and wept because they didn't want to leave. He dragged them to the ships anyway. Sometimes the kindest thing someone can do is refuse to let you stay comfortable.