Alcibiades，todiverttheinclinationofcommonrumours，cutofftheearsandtailofhisbeautifuldog，andturnedhimoutintothepublicplace，totheendthat，givingthepeoplethisoccasiontoprate，theymightlethisotheractionsalone。Ihavealsoseen，forthissameendofdivertingtheopinionsandconjecturesofthepeopleandtostoptheirmouths，somewomenconcealtheirrealaffectionsbythosethatwereonlycounterfeit;butIhavealsoseensomeofthem，whoincounterfeitinghavesufferedthemselvestobecaughtindeed，andwhohavequittedthetrueandoriginalaffectionforthefeigned:andsohavelearnedthattheywhofindtheiraffectionswellplacedarefoolstoconsenttothisdisguise:thepublicandfavourablereceptionbeingonlyreservedforthispretendedlover，onemayconcludehimafellowofverylittleaddressandlesswit，ifhedoesnotintheendputhimselfintoyourplace，andyouintohis;thisispreciselytocutoutandmakeupashoeforanothertodrawon。
Alittlethingwillturnanddivertus，becausealittlethingholdsus。
Wedonotmuchconsidersubjectsingrossandsingly;theyarelittleandsuperficialcircumstances，orimagesthattouchus，andtheoutwarduselessrindsthatpeelofffromthesubjectsthemselves:
\"FolliculosutnuncteretesaestatecicadaeLinquunt。\"
[\"Ashuskswefindgrasshoppersleavebehindtheminsummer。\"