This is an important piece because it tells us the historical pattern we now live under. Plato was right, as history demonstrates. These "great men" have caused more hardship, grief, and destruction than the lesser-known champions of peace. In America, lack of accountability has led to
pointless wars and disruption of the rule of law. Einstein said it best, "Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, greed, and fear." Thank you for another insightful essay.
I keep going back to Durant’s question: Who will write the history of good deeds?
Einstein hit the nail on the head; however, I remain stubbornly optimistic that we can improve our present conditions. If the Internet can do anything good, perhaps its spread the news of how horribly bad things can go.
Thank you so much again Tom, I always appreciate your feedback.
Brilliant dissection of Caesar and the state of the late republic, Caesar once described the late republic as a “name without body or form”, essentially calling it a carcass. I always wonder whether Caesar from his youth planned his rise to imperial rule meticulously or whether machiavellis “fortuna” played majority of the moves.
Exactly—was it all pure calculation? Probably not. But he must have had audacious goals in mind from a young age. It’s a tragedy that so many of his written works haven’t survived.
Marvelous analysis. And of course The Donald would like to be King--who wouldn't? And given his willingness to submit to the Constitution, even including ill-advised prosecutions, and his successes at home and abroad, it might even be wise to award him a third term. But just as our foreign policy often consists of keeping enemy tyrants at bay until they die, our task will be to keep DJT's esuccessors--whomever they may be--from assuming a throne and make sure they resume the path that has served us so well for so long.
Absolutely. We’ve long held the Constitution as sacrosanct, but time-honored things have often failed to stop influential men from getting their way—the prospect of Trump pursuing a third time is an interesting one. If anything can be gleaned from his first term, it’s that he’s more than willing to resist relinquishing power.
Perhaps he may end his second term peacefully.
At any rate, he’s established a precedent whereby other candidates from both sides of the aisle are undoubtedly going to follow.
The future remains uncertain, but perhaps the advent of the Internet and social connectedness may provide the people with enough power to check those in power. But here again, only time will tell.
This is an important piece because it tells us the historical pattern we now live under. Plato was right, as history demonstrates. These "great men" have caused more hardship, grief, and destruction than the lesser-known champions of peace. In America, lack of accountability has led to
pointless wars and disruption of the rule of law. Einstein said it best, "Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, greed, and fear." Thank you for another insightful essay.
I keep going back to Durant’s question: Who will write the history of good deeds?
Einstein hit the nail on the head; however, I remain stubbornly optimistic that we can improve our present conditions. If the Internet can do anything good, perhaps its spread the news of how horribly bad things can go.
Thank you so much again Tom, I always appreciate your feedback.
Brilliant dissection of Caesar and the state of the late republic, Caesar once described the late republic as a “name without body or form”, essentially calling it a carcass. I always wonder whether Caesar from his youth planned his rise to imperial rule meticulously or whether machiavellis “fortuna” played majority of the moves.
Exactly—was it all pure calculation? Probably not. But he must have had audacious goals in mind from a young age. It’s a tragedy that so many of his written works haven’t survived.
Marvelous analysis. And of course The Donald would like to be King--who wouldn't? And given his willingness to submit to the Constitution, even including ill-advised prosecutions, and his successes at home and abroad, it might even be wise to award him a third term. But just as our foreign policy often consists of keeping enemy tyrants at bay until they die, our task will be to keep DJT's esuccessors--whomever they may be--from assuming a throne and make sure they resume the path that has served us so well for so long.
Absolutely. We’ve long held the Constitution as sacrosanct, but time-honored things have often failed to stop influential men from getting their way—the prospect of Trump pursuing a third time is an interesting one. If anything can be gleaned from his first term, it’s that he’s more than willing to resist relinquishing power.
Perhaps he may end his second term peacefully.
At any rate, he’s established a precedent whereby other candidates from both sides of the aisle are undoubtedly going to follow.
The future remains uncertain, but perhaps the advent of the Internet and social connectedness may provide the people with enough power to check those in power. But here again, only time will tell.
Thank you so much, Chuck.
Ave César Great lectura for great men;
Hi, Cesar great lider for romans. Very important for Republic Roman. Cesar, New Consul power the republic and goverment.