Plutarch, De curiositate
W. C. Helmbold, Ed.

And like Cleon in the comedy,¹

His hands in Beggar-town, his mind on Thefton,²

so the mind of the busybody is at the same time in mansions of the rich, in hovels of the poor, in royal courts, and in bridal chambers of the newly-wed. He searches out everybody's business, that of strangers and that of rulers, nor is this search of his without danger; but just as though a man should taste aconite³ through curiosity about its properties, he would find that he had killed the taster before he had got his taste, so those who search out the vices of those more powerful than themselves destroy themselves before they acquire their knowledge. For instance those who scarcely glance⁴ at these sunbeams which have been poured down so lavishly upon us all, but recklessly dare to gaze upon the orb itself and to rend its radiance apart, striving to force their way within, are blinded. This is the reason why Philippides,⁵ the comic poet, made an excellent reply when King Lysimachus once said to him, ‘Which one of my possessions may I share with you?’ ‘Anything, Sire,’ said Philippides, ‘except your secrets.’ For only the most pleasant and most decorous attributes of kings are displayed openly-their banquets and wealth and festivals and favours ; but if there is anything [p. 485] secret, do not approach it, but let it be! The joy of a prosperous king is not concealed, nor is his laughter when he is amused, nor his outlay on entertainment and favours ; but it is time for alarm when something is hidden, something dark, unsmiling, unapproachable, a storehouse of festering wrath, or the meditation of a punishment indicative of sullen anger, or jealousy of a wife, or some suspicion against a son, or distrust of a friend. Beware of this darkening and gathering cloud! That which is now hidden will be disclosed to you when the cloud bursts forth amid crashes of thunder and bolts of lightning!