---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Augustus was sensible that mankind is…"
description: "\"Augustus was sensible that mankind is governed by names; nor was he deceived in his expectation, that the senate and people would submit to slavery, pr..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/edward-gibbon-710_ancient_augustus-was-sensible-that-mankind-is-go_3005602.png"
---

#  Augustus was sensible that mankind is governed by names…

![“Augustus was sensible that mankind is governed by names; nor was he deceived in his expectation, that the senate and people would submit to slavery, provided they were respectfully assured that they still enjoyed their ancient freedom.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/edward-gibbon-710_ancient_augustus-was-sensible-that-mankind-is-go_3005602.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/edward-gibbon-710_ancient_augustus-was-sensible-that-mankind-is-go_3005602.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/edward-gibbon-710_ancient_augustus-was-sensible-that-mankind-is-go_3005602.png)

> “Augustus was sensible that mankind is governed by names; nor was he deceived in his expectation, that the senate and people would submit to slavery, provided they were respectfully assured that they still enjoyed their ancient freedom.”

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Augustus understood that names and respectful assurances could keep people feeling free while accepting authority.

**In simple terms:** Names and respect can mask control.

Key Takeaway

Use respectful language to maintain cooperation.

Themes

politics language control

Mood

analytical historical

Type

academic philosophical

When to use this quote

- government policy
- branding
- public relations
- legal language
- social movements

Key Concepts

naming psychology of authority

Questions to Reflect On

- How do names influence perception of freedom?
- When does respectful language become coercion?

A Different Perspective

Respectful language may be manipulative.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Ancient Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-freedom-271942/) [Assured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assured/) [Augustus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustus/) [Augustus Sensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/augustus-sensible-4792651/) [Deceived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceived/) [Enjoyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyed/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Provided Respectfully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provided-respectfully-4792653/) [Respectfully Assured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respectfully-assured-4792652/) [Roman empire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roman-empire/) [Senate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senate/) [Sensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Submit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submit/)

## Related quotes

> [The manly pride of the Romans, content with substantial power, had left to the vanity of the East the forms and ceremonies of ostentatious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-manly-pride-of-the-romans-content-with-substantial-power-had-left/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [A people who still remembered that their ancestors had been the masters of the world would have applauded, with conscious pride, the representation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/a-people-who-still-remembered-that-their-ancestors-had-been-the/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [To resume, in a few words, the system of the Imperial government, as it was instituted by Augustus, and maintained by those princes who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/to-resume-in-a-few-words-the-system-of-the-imperial-government-as-it/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [Discussing the attempts of Augustus' generals to add to the extent of the Roman Empire early in his reign: The northern countries of Europe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/discussing-the-attempts-of-augustus-generals-to-add-to-the-extent-of/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [My own life in India, since I came to it in 1893 to make it my home, has been devoted to one purpose, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/my-own-life-in-india-since-i-came-to-it-in-1893-to-make-it-my-home/)

[Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/)

> [“When you fear nothing, you have nothing to fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-f-chandler/when-you-fear-nothing-you-have-nothing-to-fear/)

[S.F. Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-f-chandler/)

> [“Mankind in the aggregate I have found to be brutish, ignorant and unkind, whether those qualities were covered by the coarse tunic of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/mankind-in-the-aggregate-i-have-found-to-be-brutish-ignorant-and/)

[John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/)

> [“it was reserved for Augustus to relinquish the ambitious design of subduing the whole earth, and to introduce a spirit of moderation into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/it-was-reserved-for-augustus-to-relinquish-the-ambitious-design-of/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [“but it was reserved for Augustus to relinquish the ambitious design of subduing the whole earth, and to introduce a spirit of moderation into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-it-was-reserved-for-augustus-to-relinquish-the-ambitious-design/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [ Inclined to peace by his temper and situation, it was easy for \[Augustus\] to discover that Rome, in her present exalted situation, had much… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/inclined-to-peace-by-his-temper-and-situation-it-was-easy-for/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [If all the barbarian conquerors had been annihilated in the same hour, their total destruction would not have restored the empire of the West:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/if-all-the-barbarian-conquerors-had-been-annihilated-in-the-same-hour/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world during which the condition of the human race was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/if-a-man-were-called-to-fix-the-period-in-the-history-of-the-world/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [It is the common calamity of old age to lose whatever might have rendered it desirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/it-is-the-common-calamity-of-old-age-to-lose-whatever-might-have/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [Constantinople was the principal seat and fortress of Arianism; and, in a long interval of forty years, the faith of the princes and prelates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/constantinople-was-the-principal-seat-and-fortress-of-arianism-and-in/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

## More by Edward Gibbon

> [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [A heart to resolve, a head to contrive, and a hand to execute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/a-heart-to-resolve-a-head-to-contrive-and-a-hand-to-execute/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [ \[In\] the national and religious conflict of the \[Byzantine and Saracen\] empires, peace was without confidence, and war without mercy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/in-the-national-and-religious-conflict-of-the-byzantine-and-saracen/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [Instead of a perpetual and perfect measure of the divine will, the fragments of the Koran were produced at the discretion of Mahomet; each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/instead-of-a-perpetual-and-perfect-measure-of-the-divine-will-the/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [Constantinople was the principal seat and fortress of Arianism; and, in a long interval of forty years, the faith of the princes and prelates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/constantinople-was-the-principal-seat-and-fortress-of-arianism-and-in/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [It is the common calamity of old age to lose whatever might have rendered it desirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/it-is-the-common-calamity-of-old-age-to-lose-whatever-might-have/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world during which the condition of the human race was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/if-a-man-were-called-to-fix-the-period-in-the-history-of-the-world/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [If all the barbarian conquerors had been annihilated in the same hour, their total destruction would not have restored the empire of the West:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/if-all-the-barbarian-conquerors-had-been-annihilated-in-the-same-hour/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord; nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-desire-of-obtaining-the-advantages-and-of-escaping-the/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [ \[Every\] hour of delay abates the fame and force of the invader, and multiplies the resources of defensive war. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/every-hour-of-delay-abates-the-fame-and-force-of-the-invader-and/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [The science of the church is neglected for the study of geometry, and they lose sight of Heaven while they are employed in measuring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-science-of-the-church-is-neglected-for-the-study-of-geometry-and/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [The progress of despotism tends to disappoint its own purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-progress-of-despotism-tends-to-disappoint-its-own-purpose/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [From the paths of blood (and such is the history of nations) I cannot refuse to turn aside to gather some flowers of science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/from-the-paths-of-blood-and-such-is-the-history-of-nations-i-cannot/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [A nation of slaves is always prepared to applaud the clemency of their master who, in the abuse of absolute power, does not proceed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/a-nation-of-slaves-is-always-prepared-to-applaud-the-clemency-of/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

[Explore all 399 Edward Gibbon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

## More Ancient quotes

> [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/)

[Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/)

> [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/)

[Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/)

> [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/)

[Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/)

> [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/)

[Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/)

> [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/)

[Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/)

> [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/)

[Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/)

> [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/)

[Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/)

> [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/)

[Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/)

> [All the stories I have told you are finally as useless as all ancient knowledge is to man and to us. Its images and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/all-the-stories-i-have-told-you-are-finally-as-useless-as-all-ancient/)

[Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/)

> [So what if I'm ninety-three? So what if I'm ancient and cranky and my body's a wreck? If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/)

[Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/)

> [Science has revealed a universe that is vast, ancient, violent, strange, and beautiful, a universe of almost infinite variety and possibility one in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/science-has-revealed-a-universe-that-is-vast-ancient-violent-strange/)

[Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/)

[Browse all 2,415 Ancient quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Augustus was sensible that mankind is governed by names; nor was he deceived in his expectation, that the senate and people would submit to slavery, provided they were respectfully assured that they still enjoyed their ancient freedom.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Edward Gibbon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/augustus-was-sensible-that-mankind-is-governed-by-names-nor-was-he/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ancient"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/augustus-was-sensible-that-mankind-is-governed-by-names-nor-was-he/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/edward-gibbon-710_ancient_augustus-was-sensible-that-mankind-is-go_3005602.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/edward-gibbon-710_ancient_augustus-was-sensible-that-mankind-is-go_3005602.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/edward-gibbon-710_ancient_augustus-was-sensible-that-mankind-is-go_3005602.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Augustus was sensible that mankind is governed by names; nor was he deceived in his expectation, that the…” — Edward Gibbon",
                "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": "Edward Gibbon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Augustus was sensible that mankind is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/augustus-was-sensible-that-mankind-is-governed-by-names-nor-was-he/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/augustus-was-sensible-that-mankind-is-governed-by-names-nor-was-he/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
