Category Archives: Rome

A Burning Passion for Domination

Posted on July 31, 2024 by Matthew Phillips

“There is a clear difference between the desire for glory before men and the desire for domination. There is, to be sure, a slippery slope from the excessive delight in the praise of men to the burning passion for domination; … Continue reading →

Posted in Augustine of Hippo, government, Politics, Rome, Sallust | Leave a comment

Some Criminals Receive Correction

Posted on January 7, 2023 by Matthew Phillips

“However, when it was already late at night there came to Sulla’s camp messengers from Crassus to fetch food for Crassus himself and for his soldiers. For they had defeated the enemy, pursued them to Antennae, and were now in … Continue reading →

Posted in Plutarch, Rome | Leave a comment

The Test

Posted on December 20, 2022 by Matthew Phillips

“In private life, if you wish to pass judgement on the characters of good or of bad men, you would not, assuming that your opinion is to be subjected to a genuine test, examine their actions only at periods of … Continue reading →

Posted in Polybius, Rome | Leave a comment

Legislation Abounded

Posted on October 12, 2022 by Matthew Phillips

“Hence arose demagogues like the Gracchi and Lucius Appuleius Saturnis – and the senate’s partisans such as Marcus Livius Drusus with their equally comprehensive offers.  By these, Italian hopes were raised, only to be dashed by the tribunes’ vetoes.  Even … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Rome, Tacitus | Leave a comment

Slavish Obedience

Posted on August 25, 2022 by Matthew Phillips

“He seduced the army with bonuses, and his cheap food policy was successful bait for civilians.  Indeed, he attracted everybody’s goodwill by the enjoyable gift of peace.  Then he gradually pushed ahead and absorbed the functions of the senate, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Rome, Tacitus | Leave a comment

History As a Good or Bad Medicine

Posted on May 13, 2022 by Matthew Phillips

“In the same way political history is also made up of three parts.  The first consists of the industrious study and collation of documents; the second is topographical and includes the survey of cities, places, rivers, harbours, and in general … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Polybius, Rome | Leave a comment

The Special Function of History

Posted on April 5, 2021 by Matthew Phillips

“Now the special function of history, particularly in relation to speeches, is first of all to discover the words actually used, whatever they were, and next to establish the reason why a particular action or argument failed or succeeded.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Polybius, Rome | Leave a comment

Fortune Grows Cruel

Posted on October 21, 2020 by Matthew Phillips

“Fortune began to grow cruel and confuse everything.  Men who had easily endured hard work, dangers, uncertainty and adversity found that leisure and wealth, things desirable at other times, were a burden and the cause of misery.  And so, at … Continue reading →

Posted in Rome, Sallust | Leave a comment

Rewarding Merit and Confronting Evil

Posted on August 22, 2020 by Matthew Phillips

“The only proposals in the senate that I have seen fit to mention are particularly praiseworthy or particularly scandalous ones.  It seems to me a historian’s foremost duty to ensure that merit is recorded, and to confront evil deeds and … Continue reading →

Posted in Rome, Tacitus | Leave a comment

Fighting for the Luxury and Wealth of Others

Posted on November 4, 2019 by Matthew Phillips

 “‘Those savage beasts,’ said he, ‘in Italy, have their particular dens, they have their places of repose and refuge; but the men who bear arms, and expose their lives for the safety of their country, enjoy in the meantime nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in Rome, war | Leave a comment