The history of Rome presents various men of greater genius than Scipio Aemilianus, but none equalling him in moral purity, in the utter absence of political selfishness, in generous love of his country, and none, perhaps, to whom destiny has assigned a more tragic part.
Interpretation
The quote highlights Scipio Aemilianus's exceptional moral integrity and selflessness compared to other great figures in Roman history.
The quote by Theodor Mommsen reflects on the character of Scipio Aemilianus, emphasizing that while there may have been many individuals in Roman history with greater intellect or talent, none matched his moral purity and lack of political selfishness. It suggests that Aemilianus's devotion to his country and the tragic nature of his fate make him a uniquely admirable figure amongst his contemporaries.
In practice
Using this quote in a speech about leadership qualities during a civil service seminar.
An independent state does not pay too dear a price for its independence in accepting the sufferings of war when it cannot avoid them; a state which has lost its independence may find at least some compensation in the fact that its protector procures for it peace with its neighbours.
History is neither written nor made without love or hate.
History has a Nemesis for every sin.
I saw, moreover, that it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor my bad frame that made my righteousness worse; for my righteousness was Jesus Christ himself, the same yesterday and today and forever.
The foundation of morality should not be made dependent on myth nor tied to any authority lest doubt about the myth or about the legitimacy of the authority imperil the foundation of sound judgment and action.
The press is impotent when it abandons itself to falsehood.
Yet it is the narrative that is the life of the dream while the events themselves are often interchangeable. The events of the waking world on the other hand are forced upon us and the narrative is the unguessed axis along which they must be strung.
We never fully grasp the import of any true statement until we have a clear notion of what the opposite untrue statement would be.
But there are all different kinds of freedom, and the kind that is most precious you will not hear much talked about in the great outside world of winning and achieving and displaying.
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