One of the funniest things about deeply knowing a period of history is seeing its well-known protagonists for what they actually were rather. The Romans of the late Republic? Very Special Boys who benefited materially from centuries of imperial domination, not towering giants of competence.
Cicero's ideas about taxation and property would make the dumbest libertarian you've ever met blush. Rome was full of failsons who simply couldn't fail because grandpa had stripped some city of every valuable thing that wasn't nailed down and dad invested in 6,000 slaves.
Not a special fan of Cicero but why would he be across modern ideas of taxation? He did excel in areas that were relevant then: oratory, law, politicking. And we can't tag him a failson given he came from the equestrian order and worked his way up. Fair to say he was immensely gifted, whatever else
May 7, 2025 00:47
