Thread: Need a quote or saying for an assignment

Im writing an assignment on Madonna filippa in the book "Decameron" by Boccaccio. The thing with this story is that a woman about to be trialed to death by adultery, manages to escape by winning the crowd with humor and rhetorics.

Could someone help me find a fitting quote, preferably from roman times - on the importance of "Winning the crowd"?

Id quote the movie Gladiator on "Win the crowd" but id rather have the authority of a real person back this up, even if it is kinda obvious how much it helps having the "mob" on your side.

Originally Posted by Raziell

Im writing an assignment on Madonna filippa in the book "Decameron" by Boccaccio. The thing with this story is that a woman about to be trialed to death by adultery, manages to escape by winning the crowd with humor and rhetorics.

Could someone help me find a fitting quote, preferably from roman times - on the importance of "Winning the crowd"?

Id quote the movie Gladiator on "Win the crowd" but id rather have the authority of a real person back this up, even if it is kinda obvious how much it helps having the "mob" on your side.

You should always go to other people's funerals, otherwise, they won't come to yours.
Yogi Berra

It isn't a short quote, but the speech, "Friends, Romans, countrymen, I come to bury Caeser, not to praise him..." by Mark Anthony is pure brilliance. Mark Anthony persistently describes Brutus as an honourable man, but from a perspective that slowly changes so that by the end the crowd is whipped into a frenzy of hatred at the words 'and Brutus is an honourable man'. Old Bill Shakespeare has changed the meaning of that word by 180 degrees by his typically deft writing.

Even if you can't use this in your assignment it is worth a visit to the play to see the greatest dramatist in the English language at his best.

Edited to change our to your, and remove any doubts that we are the same person.

Another one from Old Bill:

“Die for adultery! No: The wren goes to't, and the small gilded fly does lecher in my sight”

By the way, is "death by adultery" supposed to be a punishment?

Originally Posted by Bunbury

By the way, is "death by adultery" supposed to be a punishment?

I suggest you put that question to BillClinton.

Or maybe Hillary.

Here are some funny quote about assignments.

You should always go to other people's funerals, otherwise, they won't come to yours.

Women were seldom given quality assignments or adequate air time.

Originally Posted by DrRocket

Originally Posted by Raziell

Im writing an assignment on Madonna filippa in the book "Decameron" by Boccaccio. The thing with this story is that a woman about to be trialed to death by adultery, manages to escape by winning the crowd with humor and rhetorics.

Could someone help me find a fitting quote, preferably from roman times - on the importance of "Winning the crowd"?

Id quote the movie Gladiator on "Win the crowd" but id rather have the authority of a real person back this up, even if it is kinda obvious how much it helps having the "mob" on your side.

You should always go to other people's funerals, otherwise, they won't come to yours.
Yogi Berra

i think i read this from somewhere....Oh yea! the great gatsby

Try " Black Adder "

You might want to read Chaucer's "Wife of Bath" tale and prologue from the Canterbury Tales as a counterpoint if you have the time. Chaucer was likely familiar with the Decameron, and the Wife of Bath is in large part based on Madonna Filippa, in the Wife's case it is highly implied that she has murdered her 5 previous husbands. But she says something along the lines of her adultery being justified because her "sex is like a lantern that can be passed around without anyone being at a loss for light." I paraphrase though.

"By this proverbe thou shalt understonde,
Have thou ynogh, what thar thee recche or care
How myrily that othere folkes fare?
For, certeyn, olde dotard, by your leve,
Ye shul have queynte right ynogh at eve.
He is to greet a nyggard that wolde werne
A man to lighte a candle at his lanterne;
He shal have never the lasse light, pardee.
Have thou ynogh, thee thar nat pleyne thee."

Or in modern English (my translation)

By this proverb you shall understand,
Have you enough, what do you reach or care
How merrily other folks fare?
For, certain, old dotard, by your leave,
You shall have cunt right enough at eve.
He is to greet a niggard that would warn
A man to light (meaning to share the light of the lantern) a candle at his lantern;
He shall have never the less light, shared.
Have you enough, you do not complain you.

Edit: Chaucer had a filthy mouth. Two bad the rhyme scheme is screwed at the end.