While it is the condition of our birth to die, it is unendurable to descend from imperial power to the state of a fugitive. God forbid that I should ever be without this purple robe; may I not outlive the day when I cease to be greeted as empress! If safety is what you want, my emperor, it's easily had. We have plenty of money; there's the sea; there are our ships. But look out that when you are safe, you don't discover that death would have been preferable. For my part, I like the old saying, "Empire is a fine winding sheet."
— the Empress Theodora
Procopius B.P. I.xxiv35-8