Authors:

We should keep silent about those in power; to speak well of them almost implies flattery; to speak ill of them while they are alive is dangerous, and when they are dead is cowardly.

"Of Great Nobles". "Characters", Book by Jean De La Bruyère, www.ourcivilisation.com. 1688.
We should keep silent about those in power; to speak well of them almost implies flattery; to speak ill of them while they are alive is dangerous, and when they are dead is cowardly.