Emperors must make their own rules. - Lindsey Davis

Sometimes information you barely noticed consciously comes back to you of its own accord.

You're not bloody Aristophanes, and the people who are paying for tickets are not educated Athenians. We're acting for turnips who only come to talk to their cousins and fart. We have to give them a lot of action and low-level jokes, but you can leave all that to us on stage. We know what's required. Your job is to hone the basic framework and remember the simple motto: short speeches, short lines, short words.

I had been right in the first place. Getting involved with politicians is complete stupidity.