--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is perhaps not surprising, amid the…" description: "\"It is perhaps not surprising, amid the general leveling of individual aspirations in the growing megalopolis that it was the \"Odyssey\", not the \"Iliad\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/cedric-h-whitman-39662_dreams_it-is-perhaps-not-surprising-amid-the-ge_290222.jpg" --- # It is perhaps not surprising, amid the general leveling of… ![“It is perhaps not surprising, amid the general leveling of individual aspirations in the growing megalopolis that it was the "Odyssey", not the "Iliad" which Livius Andronicus introduced to Rome as its first "cultural" school book.” quote by Cedric H Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/cedric-h-whitman-39662_dreams_it-is-perhaps-not-surprising-amid-the-ge_290222.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/cedric-h-whitman-39662_dreams_it-is-perhaps-not-surprising-amid-the-ge_290222.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/cedric-h-whitman-39662_dreams_it-is-perhaps-not-surprising-amid-the-ge_290222.jpg) > “It is perhaps not surprising, amid the general leveling of individual aspirations in the growing megalopolis that it was the "Odyssey", not the "Iliad" which Livius Andronicus introduced to Rome as its first "cultural" school book.” [Cedric H Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-h-whitman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The epic "Odyssey" was chosen over the "Iliad" as Rome's first cultural school text, reflecting societal values and educational goals. **In simple terms:** Rome favored the Odyssey for cultural education. Key Takeaway Recognize how societies select narratives to shape identity. Themes education culture literature history Mood analytical inquisitive Type historical educational When to use this quote - school curricula - literary analysis - comparative mythology Key Concepts canon formation cultural priorities Roman education Questions to Reflect On - Why might Rome have preferred the Odyssey? - What does this choice reveal about Roman values? A Different Perspective May simplify complex historical influences on text selection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) ## Related quotes > [I was more worn out with the "Odyssey" than it was with the "Iliad." 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This is a complete telling of the story, 'Food.' The basic plot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fahrenthold/things-live-and-die-and-then-someone-processes-them-into-edible/) [David Fahrenthold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fahrenthold/) > [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [The NBA is my history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/the-nba-is-my-history/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) ## More by Cedric H Whitman > [Personal integrity in Achilles achieves the form and authority of immanent divinity, with its inviolable, lonely singleness, half repellent because of its almost inhuman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-h-whitman/personal-integrity-in-achilles-achieves-the-form-and-authority-of/) [Cedric H Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-h-whitman/) > [The basic story of "The Iliad" seems not even very servicable, for it has few parallels anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-h-whitman/the-basic-story-of-the-iliad-seems-not-even-very-servicable-for-it/) [Cedric H Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-h-whitman/) > [In earlier antiquity, no doubt, the multiple and not necessarily consistent aspects of the Greek character found little difficulty in embracing spiritually, if not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-h-whitman/in-earlier-antiquity-no-doubt-the-multiple-and-not-necessarily/) [Cedric H Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-h-whitman/) > [Achilles' absolute, like every heroic absolute, finds its telos or fulfillment, not in dislocating the world as it is, but in self-destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-h-whitman/achilles-absolute-like-every-heroic-absolute-finds-its-telos-or/) [Cedric H Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-h-whitman/) > [Odysseus sees reality as the situation or problem before him; Achilles sees it as something in himself, and the problem is to identify himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-h-whitman/odysseus-sees-reality-as-the-situation-or-problem-before-him-achilles/) [Cedric H Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-h-whitman/) > [To the semidivine hero, the mere fact of ruling over more men does not constitute greatness, and as for glory from Zeus, Achilles will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-h-whitman/to-the-semidivine-hero-the-mere-fact-of-ruling-over-more-men-does-not/) [Cedric H Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-h-whitman/) > [The fact that Achilles is the one to take the initiative (in the Chryse affair) is in itself significant: he feels responsiblity and concern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-h-whitman/the-fact-that-achilles-is-the-one-to-take-the-initiative-in-the/) [Cedric H Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-h-whitman/) > [The Wrath of Achilles had probably been an epic subject for generations when Homer found it, and the germ of its meaning, the conflict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-h-whitman/the-wrath-of-achilles-had-probably-been-an-epic-subject-for/) [Cedric H Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-h-whitman/) > [To reveal death all at once would be to see it absolute, and not as the veiled end of the temporal process; yet such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-h-whitman/to-reveal-death-all-at-once-would-be-to-see-it-absolute-and-not-as/) [Cedric H Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-h-whitman/) > [There is a wonderful passage in the Odyssey where Odysseus meets the ghost of Achilles in Hades. They are profoundly courteous to each other.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-h-whitman/there-is-a-wonderful-passage-in-the-odyssey-where-odysseus-meets-the/) [Cedric H Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-h-whitman/) [Explore all 11 Cedric H Whitman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-h-whitman/) ## More Dreams quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [“Now you’re wet. You’re so wet you’re leaking down your ass. You’re soaking my pillow. I don’t think I’m ever washing it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/now-you-re-wet-you-re-so-wet-you-re-leaking-down-your-ass-you-re/) [Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is perhaps not surprising, amid the general leveling of individual aspirations in the growing megalopolis that it was the \"Odyssey\", not the \"Iliad\" which Livius Andronicus introduced to Rome as its first \"cultural\" school book.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cedric H Whitman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-h-whitman/it-is-perhaps-not-surprising-amid-the-general-leveling-of-individual/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dreams" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-h-whitman/it-is-perhaps-not-surprising-amid-the-general-leveling-of-individual/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/cedric-h-whitman-39662_dreams_it-is-perhaps-not-surprising-amid-the-ge_290222.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/cedric-h-whitman-39662_dreams_it-is-perhaps-not-surprising-amid-the-ge_290222.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfa/cedric-h-whitman-39662_dreams_it-is-perhaps-not-surprising-amid-the-ge_290222.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is perhaps not surprising, amid the general leveling of individual aspirations in the growing megalopolis…” — Cedric H Whitman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Cedric H Whitman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-h-whitman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is perhaps not surprising, amid...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-h-whitman/it-is-perhaps-not-surprising-amid-the-general-leveling-of-individual/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-h-whitman/it-is-perhaps-not-surprising-amid-the-general-leveling-of-individual/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```