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The best of all times
Mar. 10th, 2020 12:23 am“For some reason or other – perhaps because of the sudden change from excessive cold to excessive heat – the hard winter was followed by an unhealthy summer. Plague was rife, and neither human beings nor animals were immune. The disease was incurable, its ravages appalling, and in despair of understanding its cause or of foreseeing its end the Senate ordered a consultation of the Sybilline Books. ”
--- Titus Livy. “The Early History of Rome.”
The ancients would be astonished that a man in his 70-s could still be concerned about a 10% chance of dying from a plague.
upd: the real plague of our age is low birth rates.
(no subject)
Feb. 18th, 2020 08:06 pm“...while our own men have to grind their hearts out in frost and snow, living under canvas and not permitted to sheathe their swords even in those months which have always brought a respite from all wars, whether by sea or land. To campaign upon compulsion, summer and winter alike? Why, this is slavery beyond any imposed by the kings, or by those haughty consuls in the old days before we tribunes existed; it is worse than anything done by the gloomy and remorseless power of the dictatorship, or by the self–willed and arrogant decemvirs.”
...
“For some reason or other – perhaps because of the sudden change from excessive cold to excessive heat – the hard winter was followed by an unhealthy summer. Plague was rife, and neither human beings nor animals were immune.”
-- Titus Livy. “The Early History of Rome.”
...
“For some reason or other – perhaps because of the sudden change from excessive cold to excessive heat – the hard winter was followed by an unhealthy summer. Plague was rife, and neither human beings nor animals were immune.”
-- Titus Livy. “The Early History of Rome.”
(no subject)
Feb. 17th, 2020 01:35 pm“Then the great moment came; the show began, and nobody had eyes or thoughts for anything else. This was the Romans’ opportunity: at a given signal all the able–bodied men burst through the crowd and seized the young women. Most of the girls were the prize of whoever got hold of them first, but a few conspicuously handsome ones had been previously marked down for leading senators, and these were brought to their houses by special gangs. ”
--- Titus Livy. “The Early History of Rome.”
Hard to imagine today, but women's voting rights is a 20th century development even in democratic countries.
(no subject)
Feb. 14th, 2020 05:27 pm“The study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind; for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of human experience plainly set out for all to see; and in that record you can find for yourself and your country both examples and warnings; fine things to take as models, base things, rotten through and through, to avoid.”
--- Titus Livy. “The Early History of Rome.”
