21–30 of 95 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Maybe having his severed head and hands put on public display was some kind of karmic retribution?
Cicero was demanitated at 63 (beating Ernesto Guevara by 24 years), yet Roger Daltrey (76) still has to sing "hope I die before I get old." Now that's karma?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Cicero was demanitated at 63 (beating Ernesto Guevara by 24 years), yet Roger Daltrey (76) still has to sing "hope I die before I get old." Now that's karma?
'demanitated' that is a new word for me. Google doesn't show much. Does it mean cutting hands? from the (Spanish/Latin) manos=hands
(and I admit to having a morbid, in the main, achiral habit on HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24250512 )
Cicero is one of the Roman gems that people tend to miss out on. He lived more than 2000 years ago, and written many works on Greek philosophy (including the works of Plato, Stoics, Epicureans, et al); and some of his own. He often claims that he doesn't take sides, but aims for what is most "probable". Although, in some cases he leans heavily towards Stoic ethics (despite his love for Plato's Academy). Besides the "…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Cicero was demanitated at 63 (beating Ernesto Guevara by 24 years), yet Roger Daltrey (76) still has to sing "hope I die before I get old." Now that's karma?
I had heard that they drop that line when they sing it now. False rumor?
EDIT: whoops, it was the 50th anniversary tour of 2016. They didn't do My Generation in Seattle in 2019.
Cicero is one of the Roman gems that people tend to miss out on. He lived more than 2000 years ago, and written many works on Greek philosophy (including the works of Plato, Stoics, Epicureans, et al); and some of his own. He often claims that he doesn't take sides, but aims for what is most "probable". Although, in some cases he leans heavily towards Stoic ethics (despite his love for Plato's Academy). Besides the "…
Typo: "4th and 5th" --> "3rd and 4th" (1st, 2nd, and 5th are covered in "On Life and Death")
I'm 50 now, and this is going to be hard for me because I've got little practice in dealing with disability. Even now, I'm about to run a celebratory 50k rather than my usual yearly 42k marathon. I will never again break my best time, but it's my annual proof that I can still do this thing. And yet it's coming. Bifocals are in my near future. I have very preliminary symptoms of prostate trouble. I'm not used to needi…
Imagine being a slave and hearing this guy say it's all within you to live a happy life: >For to those who have not the means within themselves of a virtuous and happy life every age is burdensome
Epictetus, a Roman slave, probably crippled by his master.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
That'd totally suck if you were to hear him say it here and now. In the context of the Roman empire and the period Cicero wrote this it would probably not register much, except for with a few 'activist' types like Spartacus. Take the way things are done currently which you more or less accept as normal, e.g. the state demands part of your income with the threat of force if you don't comply. Fast-forward to a new age…
Did you seriously just turn a point about slavery into a rant that you have to pay taxes? Lol
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've been on a bit of a roman history binge lately, fueled by the discovery of Mike Duncan's podcast, "The History of Rome" so I'm going to tell the story I understood from that here for context: In his telling, the Catiline Conspiracy was a product of its time: Marius and Sulla showed the Roman aristocracy that if you just ignored the law and had popular support + an army, you could basically do whatever you want, a…
I would second Mike Duncan’s podcasts on Rome as being well worth your time. And that is how I recall that period of time. It’s one of those situations where you let the reality of the situation deviate you from your ideals, I think. @throwanem - have you ever read anything where he commented in hindsight that he still believed that he made the right choice? I’m newer to Roman history and sounds like you might have e…
I struggle with the same question you raised in your other comment, and find it often difficult to credit ideals which even their own strongest proponents prove unable to uphold when it seems to matter most.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
So this is where I also struggle with Cicero. He was overly political, very worried about his own image, flip-flopped sides as suited him and was easily persuaded with gifts of status. But we remember him for his philosophies and writings (or his summaries of other’s philosophy for the more cynical), which did seem to have a impact on future generations. On one hand, all men fall short of their ideal. But do you real…
The point of ideals is that we're often willing to overlook[1] flaws in their messengers[2]. A man's retch should exceed his grasp, or what's a-heaving for? "The power which the strong have over the weak, the employer over the employed, the educated over the unlettered, the experienced over the confiding, even the clever over the silly -- the forbearing or inoffensive use of all this power or authority, or a total ab…
I saw what you did there.