Players are spurred on by the plaudits of the children—not to speak of their own friends—whenever a player believes them to be genuine and well-meaning

In the theaters [as in life] the players are spurred on by the plaudits of the children—not to speak of their own friends—whenever a player believes them to be genuine and well-meaning in their encouragement. Plato. Letter 4.321a

Image: Comic actor of ivory with polychromy, Roman, 1st century CE, perhaps from Rome currently in the Petit Palais, in Paris, France courtesy of Wikimedia Commons contributor Vassil.