Why did Horace and Juvenal avoid directly attacking powerful people who were still alive?

Horace and Juvenal avoided directly attacking powerful living figures primarily as a self-protective measure to escape the legal and social dangers associated with such criticism.1

In the context of satire as an artistic form, the relationship between the satirist and the law has historically been delicate. Because attacking those in positions of authority could lead to severe consequences—including financial loss, exile, or even death—satirists often employed strategies of indirection.1

Juvenal explicitly addressed this in his first satire, declaring that because it is dangerous to attack powerful men during their lifetimes, he would instead draw his examples from the dead. While he did not always strictly adhere to this principle, it served as a useful "insurance policy" against retaliation. Similarly, Horace, who preferred a tone of mild mockery and playful wit over harsh invective, generally directed his criticism toward insignificant targets or those who were already deceased. By focusing on the dead or the inconsequential, these poets could critique vice and folly while navigating the risks of living under authoritarian rule.23451