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About this quote

What does it mean?
He was not affected by the dead man's death, but only returned to business after a long delay; later, mocking the memory of the Iliad envoys, he claimed to feel their pain because they had lost the great citizen Hector.
In plain terms
He delayed returning to work after a death, then pretended to mourn lost allies.
What can you take from it?
False displays of grief can be a political tool.

Where it applies

  • public ceremonies
  • political negotiations

Putting it to work

  • express genuine sentiment
  • avoid performative mourning

Questions to consider

  • Why might leaders feign sorrow?
  • What are the risks of insincere mourning?

Another view

The quote mixes several events, making precise meaning unclear.

More from Suetonius

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