21–23 of 23 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Washington was an exceptional man who walked away from near-total power. It’s only been done a few times in human history.
What are some other times?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
What are some other times?
Washington admired the popular representation of Cato the Younger, and founded a society with his name, and his refusal to assume permanent absolute power is seen as analogous to Cato's.
(I have a comment that may be relevant to some other observations here, but mostly unrelated to the piece itself, amusing as it is.) To understand the USA, and modern politics in general, I find it very helpful to know a little bit of Roman history. The US were deliberately moulded by the very knowledgeable founders as a revised and improved version of the classical Roman republic. The attempt was wildly successful,…
That is quite broad, and not related to the piece. I don't disagree with you, but it sounds like you're wandering far afield to make some other point not even close to where the article is going. Banging on your own drum as it were. The well-educated of the time were taught classics, so yes, Romans had an influence, as did the Greeks. They were protestants, more of a deist nature, but protestants. So there's that inf…
That was the brilliant new technology part, with the "consent of the governed" and its production.
I was just going for the Cincinnatus, anti-monarchical, angle - why go to such lengths to avoid any appearance of autocratic power, or shred of desire for it. Not even imposing on important families - or favoring them with - a presidential visit.
(For another amusing story of president-elect travel, "Plums delivered nuts safely" is a good search. Coincidentally about a life that years later ended for the reasons mentioned.)