For dealing with blessings which come to us from outside we need a firm foundation based on reason and education; without this foundation, people kee… - Plutarch

This may show us how dangerous it is to incur the hostility of a city that is mistress of eloquence and song.

But being overborne with numbers, and nobody daring to face about, stretching out his hands to heaven, [Romulus] prayed to Jupiter to stop the army, and not to neglect but maintain the Roman cause, now in extreme danger. The prayer was no sooner made, than shame and respect for their king checked many; the fears of the fugitives changed suddenly into confidence.

When one told Plistarchus that a notorious railer spoke well of him, "I 'll lay my life," said he, "somebody hath told him I am dead, for he can speak well of no man living."