How to avoid bad omens

A great deal of random events could be seen as signs from the gods. Here's one way to "misinterpret" a bad omen into a good one.


Ancient tombs on the Athenian Agora.

"Epaminondas, the Theban, when his soldiers were depressed because the decoration hanging from his spear like a fillet had been torn away by the wind and carried to the tomb of a certain Spartan, said: "Do not be concerned, comrades! Destruction is foretold for the Spartans. Tombs are not decorated except for funerals.""

Frontinus - Stratagems XII
Translated by Charles E. Bennett