Giulia Brunetta (RHUL)

Presented to the PGWiP seminar on Friday 9th December 2011

Laus vera et humili saepe contingit viro, non nisi potenti falsa: reflections on praise and flattery in the imperial age.

A theme that has often been discussed in ancient literature about morality is the importance of the truth both in official and private contexts. In his treatise How to distinguish a friend from a flatterer, Plutarch, for example, argues that one needs friends not just for companionship, but also in their capacity as true-tellers. For this reason, he defines the flatterer as an enemy of truth, who is changeable and always seeks to please others instead of giving advice.