Concerning advice
“‘To tell you the truth, I don’t think you should offer advice or thrust on people ideas of this sort that you know will not be listened to. What good will it do? When your listeners are already prepossessed against you and firmly convinced of opposite opinions, what good can you do with your rhapsody of new-fangled ideas? This academic philosophy is quite agreeable in the private conversation of close friends, but in the councils of kings, where grave matters are being authoritatively decided, there is no place for it’” (More speaking to Hythloday in Book One of Utopia, page 25).
“‘You must strive to influence policy indirectly, handle the situation tactfully, and thus what you cannot turn to good, you may at least—to the extent of your powers—make less bad’” (26)
Of course, Hythloday rejects this out of hand: “‘Influencing policy indirectly! You wouldn’t have a chance’” (27).
