--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We still haven't gotten the message; we…" description: "\"We still haven't gotten the message; we still don't see that it's bad. And then we copy everything about their [Roman Empire] structure. I mean Paul Br..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/immortal-technique-2529_ancient_we-still-haven-t-gotten-the-message-we-s_1331122.jpg" --- # We still haven't gotten the message; we still don't see… ![“We still haven't gotten the message; we still don't see that it's bad. And then we copy everything about their [Roman Empire] structure. I mean Paul Bremer was the proconsul of Iraq. We're still using ancient terminology, we still have Senators and we have an Emperor, almost.” quote by Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/immortal-technique-2529_ancient_we-still-haven-t-gotten-the-message-we-s_1331122.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/immortal-technique-2529_ancient_we-still-haven-t-gotten-the-message-we-s_1331122.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/immortal-technique-2529_ancient_we-still-haven-t-gotten-the-message-we-s_1331122.jpg) > “We still haven't gotten the message; we still don't see that it's bad. And then we copy everything about their \[Roman Empire\] structure. I mean Paul Bremer was the proconsul of Iraq. We're still using ancient terminology, we still have Senators and we have an Emperor, almost.” [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societies repeat ancient power structures, copying outdated hierarchies that hinder progress. **In simple terms:** History repeats old power patterns. Key Takeaway Question and reform outdated systems. Themes history power critique Mood critical provocative Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy reform - education - activism Key Concepts political theory social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What modern structures mirror ancient empires? - How can we break these cycles? A Different Perspective Change is slow and faces entrenched interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Copies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copies/) [Emperor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emperor/) [Empires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empires/) [Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/havens/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Iraq Using](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq-using-4467186/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [Proconsul Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proconsul-iraq-4467185/) [Roman empire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roman-empire/) [Senators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senators/) [Senators Emperor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senators-emperor-4467187/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) [Terminology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terminology/) ## Related quotes > [On Earth, God has placed no more than two powers, and as there is in Heaven but one God, so is there here one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-i-holy-roman-emperor/on-earth-god-has-placed-no-more-than-two-powers-and-as-there-is-in/) [Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-i-holy-roman-emperor/) > [The terror of the Roman arms added weight and dignity to the moderation of the emperors. 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We still don't see Rome as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/when-we-look-at-these-types-of-things-it-echoes-to-lessons-we-haven-t/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [Because I know that the early Greeks and Romans and the early Europeans at that age did not see racism as we see it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/because-i-know-that-the-early-greeks-and-romans-and-the-early/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [I assume my stance, and take back the club, low, slowly; at the top, my eyes fog over, and my joints dip and swirl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/i-assume-my-stance-and-take-back-the-club-low-slowly-at-the-top-my/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) ## More by Immortal Technique > [The mind of a child is where the Revolution begins,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/the-mind-of-a-child-is-where-the-revolution-begins/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [I jerk off inside books and give life to words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/i-jerk-off-inside-books-and-give-life-to-words/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [I put the truth out there, I put the historical facts into Hip Hop to show us how much history repeats itself and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/i-put-the-truth-out-there-i-put-the-historical-facts-into-hip-hop-to/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [When you talk about revolution, it's very easy to romanticize picking up a gun or marching in the street, but I think before we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/when-you-talk-about-revolution-it-s-very-easy-to-romanticize-picking/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [Only a f-kin imbecile would think they un-correctable, cause you're susceptible to becoming more than a spectacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/only-a-f-kin-imbecile-would-think-they-un-correctable-cause-you-re/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [So when the devil wants to dance with you, you better say never, Because the dance with the devil might last you forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/so-when-the-devil-wants-to-dance-with-you-you-better-say-never/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [Changing the course of destiny, so I'm strapped with weaponry cause the government don't give a f-k about protecting me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/changing-the-course-of-destiny-so-i-m-strapped-with-weaponry-cause/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [Rich people, they stay out of jail not just because they have more money but because they grew up in a culture where they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/rich-people-they-stay-out-of-jail-not-just-because-they-have-more/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [I don't think the war is going to end, but the war is just going to change. So we talk about change all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/i-don-t-think-the-war-is-going-to-end-but-the-war-is-just-going-to/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [Read about the history of the place that we live in and stop letting corporate news tell lies to your children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/read-about-the-history-of-the-place-that-we-live-in-and-stop-letting/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [I hate it when they tell us how far we've came to be; as if our people's history started with slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/i-hate-it-when-they-tell-us-how-far-we-ve-came-to-be-as-if-our-people/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [The interesting thing about that is one of the greatest critics of socialism and leftwing writings was Robert Michels who wrote a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/the-interesting-thing-about-that-is-one-of-the-greatest-critics-of/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [People were like, "Someone who made a song like this, there has to be more to them. I'm interested in hearing how they would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/people-were-like-someone-who-made-a-song-like-this-there-has-to-be/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [It doesn't matter what race you are. It doesn't matter what religion you are. I always tell people: If you want to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/it-doesn-t-matter-what-race-you-are-it-doesn-t-matter-what-religion/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [I can't imagine Revolution being quiet, unassuming, or bashful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/i-can-t-imagine-revolution-being-quiet-unassuming-or-bashful/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) [Explore all 162 Immortal Technique quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) ## 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? 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