History is how we have learnt to think about ourselves. It's not as though the Greeks and Romans are static entities out there to be discovered and translated. We make them speak, we talk to them, and they inform what we say.
Mary BeardRead
I'd quite like to be in Caligula's court - living in the back room somewhere and just being able to observe.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a desire to witness the complexities of power and society from a safe distance.
Mary Beard's quote reflects an interest in observing the intricacies of power dynamics and societal behavior, particularly in the historical context of Caligula's court, which was known for its excesses and moral ambiguities. It implies a fascination with human nature and the tumultuous interactions within a notorious political environment, highlighting the benefits of observation without direct involvement in the chaos.
Themes
ObservationPowerSocietyHistoryCaligula
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of historical perspective, this quote can highlight the value of observing history.
More from Mary Beard
All quotes →I don't think that we are completely dominated by what we have inherited from the past, but it is the case that as far back as you can go - just to Homer, but also to the literature of Rome, the literature of the Middle Ages and Renaissance - what you will find is that women's voices are not taken seriously.
Mary BeardRead
What politicians do is they never get the rhetoric wrong, and the price they pay is they don't speak the truth as they see it. Now, I will speak truth as I see it, and sometimes I don't get the rhetoric right. I think that's a fair trade-off.
Mary BeardRead
Whatever you say about popular culture, people like people who know things, who are experts, and it doesn't particularly matter what they look like.
Mary BeardRead
There is no way, absolutely no way, that I would want people to stop reading the 'Odyssey.' But I want them to read it with their eyes open. To notice it and then to think what it says about us.
Mary BeardRead
It wasn't until I got to Cambridge that I discovered active discrimination against women.
Mary BeardRead
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