--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I read the Romans had bread and circuses…" description: "\"I read the Romans had bread and circuses. We had home relief and boxing.\" — Jake LaMotta" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/jake-lamotta-8672_boxing_i-read-the-romans-had-bread-and-circuses_3191221.jpg" --- # I read the Romans had bread and circuses. We had home… ![“I read the Romans had bread and circuses. We had home relief and boxing.” quote by Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/jake-lamotta-8672_boxing_i-read-the-romans-had-bread-and-circuses_3191221.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/jake-lamotta-8672_boxing_i-read-the-romans-had-bread-and-circuses_3191221.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/jake-lamotta-8672_boxing_i-read-the-romans-had-bread-and-circuses_3191221.jpg) > “I read the Romans had bread and circuses. We had home relief and boxing.” [Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observing that modern societies replace ancient political distractions with welfare and entertainment. **In simple terms:** Modern distractions differ from ancient ones. Key Takeaway Recognize how comforts can pacify public engagement. Themes politics entertainment social control Mood critical reflective Type analytical observational When to use this quote - voter apathy - policy debate - media consumption - social welfare programs Key Concepts public distraction welfare state media influence Questions to Reflect On - How do welfare programs affect civic participation? - What role does entertainment play in political awareness? A Different Perspective It may overlook genuine systemic issues behind such comforts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boxing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxing/) [Bread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread/) [Bread and circuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread-and-circuses/) [Circus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circus/) [Circuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circuses/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Relief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relief/) [Romans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romans/) ## Related quotes > [The purpose of bread and circuses is, as Neil Postman said in his book Amusing Ourselves to Death, to distract, to divert emotional energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/the-purpose-of-bread-and-circuses-is-as-neil-postman-said-in-his-book/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [Give them bread and circuses and they will never revolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/give-them-bread-and-circuses-and-they-will-never-revolt/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Two things only the people actually desire: bread and circuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/two-things-only-the-people-actually-desire-bread-and-circuses/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [The people that once bestowed commands, consulships, legions, and all else, now concerns itself no more, and longs eagerly for just two things: bread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/the-people-that-once-bestowed-commands-consulships-legions-and-all/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man, the People have abdicated our duties; for the People who once upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/already-long-ago-from-when-we-sold-our-vote-to-no-man-the-people-have/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Panem et Circenses" translates into 'Bread and Circuses.' The writer was saying that in return for full bellies and entertainment, his people had given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/panem-et-circenses-translates-into-bread-and-circuses-the-writer-was/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [The Romans always wanted bread and circuses-food and entertainement! As we destroy their city, I will offer them both. Behold, a sample!" Someething dropped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-romans-always-wanted-bread-and-circuses-food-and-entertainement/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We love against the night, burning like stars against the darkness of bread and circuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-love-against-the-night-burning-like-stars-against-the-darkness-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Now that no one buys our votes, the public has long since cast off its cares; for the people that once bestowed commands, consulships,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/now-that-no-one-buys-our-votes-the-public-has-long-since-cast-off-its/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [“The people that once bestowed commands, consulships, legions, and allelse, now concerns itself no more, and longs eagerly for just two things: bread and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/the-people-that-once-bestowed-commands-consulships-legions-and/) [herbert marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) > [“I love her like two cheese sticks without cheese. Bread and circuses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-love-her-like-two-cheese-sticks-without-cheese-bread-and-circuses/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [There is an obvious connection, on the declining Roman empire's bread and circuses model, between political enthusiasm for public spectacles and the periods when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/there-is-an-obvious-connection-on-the-declining-roman-empire-s-bread/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [That's a Roman concept where the government can do anything, as long as you give the people "bread and circuses." And I'd say this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mackaye/that-s-a-roman-concept-where-the-government-can-do-anything-as-long/) [Ian MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mackaye/) > [What is supposed to happen in a democracy is that each sovereign citizen will always vote in the public interest for the safety and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/what-is-supposed-to-happen-in-a-democracy-is-that-each-sovereign/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“So put your costume on, honey! Ruby said. Set Harlequin free! That party monster of yours is screaming to come out. Let the monster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-spanbauer/so-put-your-costume-on-honey-ruby-said-set-harlequin-free-that-party/) [Tom Spanbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-spanbauer/) ## More by Jake LaMotta > [Even when I was hurt, I was always the aggressor, no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-lamotta/even-when-i-was-hurt-i-was-always-the-aggressor-no-matter-what/) [Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) > [I'm the Godfather of Boxing. Everything is out in the open with me. What you see is what you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-lamotta/i-m-the-godfather-of-boxing-everything-is-out-in-the-open-with-me/) [Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) > [I had such a crazy life. How I got away with it, I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-lamotta/i-had-such-a-crazy-life-how-i-got-away-with-it-i-don-t-know/) [Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) > [I fought Sugar Ray Robinson so many times, it's a wonder I don't have diabetes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-lamotta/i-fought-sugar-ray-robinson-so-many-times-it-s-a-wonder-i-don-t-have/) [Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) > [Boxing never hurt me at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-lamotta/boxing-never-hurt-me-at-all/) [Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) > [You punch like you take it up the ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-lamotta/you-punch-like-you-take-it-up-the-ass/) [Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) > [Whenever I did have a lot of money, I got in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-lamotta/whenever-i-did-have-a-lot-of-money-i-got-in-trouble/) [Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) > [Besides Bob Satterfield, the only ones who ever hurt me were my ex-wives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-lamotta/besides-bob-satterfield-the-only-ones-who-ever-hurt-me-were-my-ex/) [Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) > [I fought Sugar Ray so often, I almost got diabetes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-lamotta/i-fought-sugar-ray-so-often-i-almost-got-diabetes/) [Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) > [God's been pretty good to me. He made me duck all those punches that were supposed to land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-lamotta/god-s-been-pretty-good-to-me-he-made-me-duck-all-those-punches-that/) [Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) > [I ask for personal appearance fees because I've earned them. I deserve them. My presence at events is what they need, so they ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-lamotta/i-ask-for-personal-appearance-fees-because-i-ve-earned-them-i-deserve/) [Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) > [I was able to convince my body that I could take it and nobody could hurt me. I might've gotten cut, stitches over my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-lamotta/i-was-able-to-convince-my-body-that-i-could-take-it-and-nobody-could/) [Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) > [I wasn't born to be a fighter. My hands are too small, and look at these short arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-lamotta/i-wasn-t-born-to-be-a-fighter-my-hands-are-too-small-and-look-at/) [Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) > [You don't compare a guy with 30 or 40 fights with a guy who had 200 fights and fought over 25 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-lamotta/you-don-t-compare-a-guy-with-30-or-40-fights-with-a-guy-who-had-200/) [Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) > [People get in auto accidents, they're paralyzed for life. I got hurt worse getting married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-lamotta/people-get-in-auto-accidents-they-re-paralyzed-for-life-i-got-hurt/) [Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) [Explore all 79 Jake LaMotta quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) ## More Boxing quotes > [You know, it brings in a lot of different people; you take people off the street, and kids, and people from all different walks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-lamy/you-know-it-brings-in-a-lot-of-different-people-you-take-people-off/) [Michele Lamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-lamy/) > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [Apart from my grandad, none of my family had really been into boxing so the sport was never discussed much at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-taylor/apart-from-my-grandad-none-of-my-family-had-really-been-into-boxing/) [Josh Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-taylor/) > [You don't think. It's all instinct. If you stop to think, you're gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-robinson/you-don-t-think-it-s-all-instinct-if-you-stop-to-think-you-re-gone/) [Sugar Ray Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-robinson/) > [I actually like boxing away from home. It takes the pressure off you a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/i-actually-like-boxing-away-from-home-it-takes-the-pressure-off-you-a/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [Whether it's Marcos Maidana, Shawn Porter, Amir Khan or Kell Brook, there are a lot of fights out there that I think would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thurman/whether-it-s-marcos-maidana-shawn-porter-amir-khan-or-kell-brook/) [Keith Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-thurman/) > [I'm a fighter, I love boxing, it's what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mosley/i-m-a-fighter-i-love-boxing-it-s-what-i-do/) [Shane Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mosley/) > [I first got into boxing when I was quite young. I was about 12 when I won my first boxing match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-parker/i-first-got-into-boxing-when-i-was-quite-young-i-was-about-12-when-i/) [Joseph Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-parker/) > [Boxing can be so important to young people, it keeps you off the street and you can channel your energy and aggression in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/boxing-can-be-so-important-to-young-people-it-keeps-you-off-the/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-m-too-fast-i-m-too-smart-i-m-too-pretty/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I somewhere along the way became fascinated with exploring characters who are willing to put themselves into violent situations, whether it's football, hockey, boxing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-berg/i-somewhere-along-the-way-became-fascinated-with-exploring-characters/) [Peter Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-berg/) > [I liked wrestling a lot better than boxing. I remember thinking at that time that wrestling was a pure demonstration of strength, which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-carpenter/i-liked-wrestling-a-lot-better-than-boxing-i-remember-thinking-at/) [Scott Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-carpenter/) > [I always tried to be different from everyone else. Then I found out about boxing. 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