“Do not blame Caesar, blame the people of Rome who have so enthusiastically acclaimed and adored him and rejoiced in their loss of freedom and danced in his path and gave him triumphal processions. Blame the people who hail him when he speaks in the Forum of the ‘new, wonderful good society’ which shall now be Rome’s, interpreted to mean ‘more money, more ease, more security, more living fatly at the expense of the industrious’.”
Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC)
Any Roman writer is about my least favorite to read, outside of Shakespeare that is! However, it is interesting to note that Cicero, whom was a statesman in Rome at a time when to be Roman meant the ultimate freedom no society has experienced since the rise of Caesar. To be Roman meant the world’s wealth came to you. About two thirds of the world’s population was in slavery to Rome, so wealth abounded.
Yet, Romans placed over them Caesar as a King, something they had never had and they rejoiced in the loss of their freedoms and wealth – because Caesar was their king! Of course, Brutus, and friends, rectified that little mistake when Caesar decided to declare himself a god. Naturally, Rome then did make him a god!
Amazing how history seems to constantly repeat itself. I sure hope this bizarre cult of presidency worship ceases and American’s can start to engage their brains rather than their tongues…..
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