Revenge is sweeter than life itself. So think fools.
JuvenalRead
The people that once bestowed commands, consulships, legions, and all else, now concerns itself no more, and longs eagerly for just two things: bread and circuses!
Interpretation
What this quote means
Juvenal comments on how the populace desires basic needs and entertainment rather than meaningful leadership or governance.
This quote by Juvenal highlights the decline of civic responsibility and the shift in public interests towards mere survival and amusement. It suggests that the people who once held power and authority have become less engaged in societal matters, now yearning only for bread, representing basic sustenance, and circuses, symbolizing entertainment and distraction. This reflects a critique of society's deterioration when the populace prioritizes trivial pleasures over the pursuit of deeper values and responsibilities.
Themes
SocietyPowerEntertainmentResponsibilityNeeds
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about civic engagement and society, one could use this quote to illustrate the complacency of the masses.
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All wish to possess knowledge, but few, comparatively speaking, are willing to pay the price.
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This is his first punishment, that by the verdict of his own heart no guilty man is acquitted.
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