for things done in fear require to be hidden, and the light is their foe.
 Plutarch, Parallel Lives (c. 100 AD). copy citation

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Author Plutarch
Source Parallel Lives
Topic fear hiding
Date c. 100 AD
Language English
Reference
Note Translated by A. H. Clough
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/674/674-h/674-h.htm

Context

“his former habitual adviser who used to moderate much of his superstition, Stilbides, had died a little before. For in fact, this prodigy, as Philochorus observes, was not unlucky for men wishing to fly, but on the contrary very favorable; for things done in fear require to be hidden, and the light is their foe. Nor was it usual to observe signs in the sun or moon more than three days, as Autoclides states in his Commentaries. But Nicias persuaded them to wait another full course of the moon, as if he had not seen it clear again as soon as ever it had passed the region of shadow where the light was obstructed by the earth.” source