Ancient Rome, Ancient Romans Quotes

Menander first originated the phrase. However, Julius Caesar made it famous, by stating it when he crossed the Rubicon River with his Legions and headed for Rome. He had passed the “point of no return.” It was forbidden for a Roman commander of legions to allow the legions under arms to come that close to Rome under the theory that no military commander could take over the government if his legions were at a distance from Rome. Caesar was indeed marching on Rome with his troops, and took over the government. The great phrase implied that the key action had been taken and the commitment made. The dice was thrown but no one know yet what the results would be. For Caesar, they turned out to be good. Dice was a very good metaphor for the era as Greek and Roman men played (and gambled) on dice games frequently. John Adams used a variant of the quotation in castigating President Taylor. See {622034}

Later published under the pseudonym Silence Dogood in the New England Courant, July 9, 1722. Cato originated the quotation in Ancient Rome. A millennium later, Ben Franklin picked it up and made it and made it very popular. Note that it was very common in early America for publishers and writers to copy materials from others and publish them under their own name. America was a major intellectual property pirate in its early years copying and printing much and rarely giving credit and never paying an author's royalty--not unlike some of the Asian nations today.

Marcus Porcius Cato. This quotation has had two different interpretations over time. One was that women if they received equality of treatment and voting would have an advantage for they also had their traditional “feminine wiles” and their sexuality, hence would dominate men. The second was a also a warning but based on the fact that women were superior in many ways, and given an equal chance, would excel men. The later interpretation is argued by some who point to the 2011 American data that shows more females than males graduating from high school and college, and females outnumber males in medical, law and several other professional schools. With the exception of a few Roman men, most heeded Cato’s warning and never took a chance on female equality.

Often mistakenly attributed to Xenocrates or that that other great mind “Anonymous.”

The original latin: Errare humanum est, sed perseverare diabolicum.

This was the intellectual basis of the famous speech by Barry Goldwater in the 1964 presidential race—see related quote.

This is a very important historical and political quotation. The first clause shows us that earmarks and private bills for the benefit of individuals and their commercial enterprises are not a new form of corruption; they have existed ever since there have been legislatures.

The most important aspect of this quotation is the SECOND clause. Very frequently, this is quoted alone without the context of the first clause. Taken alone, the meaning seems to be that the more corrupt governments pass the most laws, and there is an implication that fewer laws mean less corruption. This interpretation fits perfectly with the conservative ideology of the late 20th and early 21st centuries that believed that the smaller the government, the better; the fewer the laws passed, the better. However with the context of the first clause, we see that what Tacitus was criticizing the legislature that passed many earmarks and bills benefitting special interests. The more of these that were passed, the more corruption he argued. So he did not object to laws per se. He was not opining on the relationship between the number of laws and a corrupt government if the laws are for general benefit and not for special interests. Out of context, it might appear that Tacitus was supporting the small government, conservative philosophy. In context, he is arguing against earmarks and special interest legislation and supports what we call “good government” which has been bipartisan in America with parts of each party agreeing with Tacitus and other parts of each party trying to pass earmarks and special interest legislation.

He was one of the 3 regents who governed Egypt for the young pharaoh Ptolemy XIII. Rome was in the midst of a civil war with Julius Caesar pitted against Pompey. Rome expected the independent states of the Roman Empire to render aid and assistance to Roman officials who needed same. Pompey with a small fleet and army was being chased by Caesar and arrived at the Egyptian shore demanding assistance. As one of the Roman triumverate, he could take over the Egyptian Kingdom if they let him. And Egypt would be at war with Egypt with Pompey. If they refused him supplies and assistance, Pompey would have later taken it out on Egypt for not honoring their obligation if he defeated Caesar. Theodotus’ famous quotation was accepted by the other two regents. After telling Pompey they would help him, when he landed, the killed and beheaded him. Caesar arrived two days later and Theodotus made the mistake of delivering to Caesar the head and signet ring of Pompey. Caesar was furious. And his dislike of Theodotus and the other two regents, was one of the reasons that he installed Cleopatra, the older sister of Ptolemy XIII as the co-ruler, thus putting Theodotus and the other regents out of a job as Cleopatra was just old enough to rule in her own right and for her brother. The three Regents took the young king and organized an Egyptian attack on Caesar and Cleopatra. Caesar was badly out numbered with only a single Legion. However, with Cleopatra, the two with some loyal Egyptians held out in the Palace until Caesar’s other legions arrived, killed the other two regents and Theodotus just managed to escape and he lived in exile until he was tracked down and murdered in 42 BC. Cleopatra became the most powerful, richest, and best Pharaoh that Egypt had ever had, and her history with Caesar and later Marc Antony are legend.

Scipio Africanus Major

He was an ordained Catholic Priest but broke with the Church when he advocated democracy and separation of church and state.

Adopted by the original Edinburgh Review Magazine as its motto.