--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The people that once bestowed commands…" description: "\"The people that once bestowed commands, consulships, legions, and all else, now concerns itself no more, and longs eagerly for just two things: bread a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/juvenal-918_bread_the-people-that-once-bestowed-commands-c_1346390.png" --- # The people that once bestowed commands, consulships… ![“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!” quote by Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/juvenal-918_bread_the-people-that-once-bestowed-commands-c_1346390.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/juvenal-918_bread_the-people-that-once-bestowed-commands-c_1346390.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/juvenal-918_bread_the-people-that-once-bestowed-commands-c_1346390.png) > “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!” [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Powerful societies shift focus from grand achievements to simple pleasures and distractions. **In simple terms:** Societies crave easy entertainment. Key Takeaway Seek deeper purpose. Themes politics entertainment society decay Mood critical concerned Type philosophical satirical When to use this quote - modern politics - media consumption Key Concepts bread and circuses public distraction Questions to Reflect On - What distractions dominate today? - How can we balance enjoyment and responsibility? A Different Perspective Even simple pleasures can mask deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [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/) [Legion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legion/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I read the Romans had bread and circuses. We had home relief and boxing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-lamotta/i-read-the-romans-had-bread-and-circuses-we-had-home-relief-and-boxing/) [Jake LaMotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-lamotta/) > [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/) > [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 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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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 Juvenal > [Where have you ever found that man who stopped short after the perpetration of a single crime?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/where-have-you-ever-found-that-man-who-stopped-short-after-the/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Everything in Rome has its price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/everything-in-rome-has-its-price/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Astrology reveals the will of the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/astrology-reveals-the-will-of-the-gods/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [ Indignation leads to the making of poetry. \[Lat., Facit indignatio versum.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/indignation-leads-to-the-making-of-poetry-lat-facit-indignatio-versum/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [The short bloom of our brief and narrow life flies fast away. While we are calling for flowers and wine and women, old age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/the-short-bloom-of-our-brief-and-narrow-life-flies-fast-away-while-we/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Some men make money not for the sake of living, but ache In the blindness of greed and live just for their fortune's sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/some-men-make-money-not-for-the-sake-of-living-but-ache-in-the/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? - Who will watch the watchers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/quis-custodiet-ipsos-custodes-who-will-watch-the-watchers/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [All things may be bought in Rome with money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/all-things-may-be-bought-in-rome-with-money/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Who is to guard the guards themselves?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/who-is-to-guard-the-guards-themselves/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Dedicate one's life to truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/dedicate-one-s-life-to-truth/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [A sound mind in a sound body is a thing to be prayed for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/a-sound-mind-in-a-sound-body-is-a-thing-to-be-prayed-for/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Only death reveals what a nothing the body of man is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/only-death-reveals-what-a-nothing-the-body-of-man-is/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [“show me the apartment 235 that lets you sleep! In this city sleep costs millions, and that’s the root of the trouble.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/show-me-the-apartment-235-that-lets-you-sleep-in-this-city-sleep/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [ When a man's life is at stake no delay is too long. \[Lat., Nulla unquam de morte cunctatio longa est.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/when-a-man-s-life-is-at-stake-no-delay-is-too-long-lat-nulla-unquam/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [What man have you ever seen who was contented with one crime only?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/what-man-have-you-ever-seen-who-was-contented-with-one-crime-only/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) [Explore all 328 Juvenal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) ## More Bread quotes > [French women don't eat Wonder Bread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireille-guiliano/french-women-don-t-eat-wonder-bread/) [Mireille Guiliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireille-guiliano/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/) [Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/) > [I don't eat meat - chicken, fish, none of that. I eat a lot of vegetable sandwiches, like lettuce, tomatoes, sprouts, cucumbers, whatever I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gza/i-don-t-eat-meat-chicken-fish-none-of-that-i-eat-a-lot-of-vegetable/) Gza > [“We should remark the grace and fascination that there is even in the incidentals of Nature's processes.. When a loaf of bread,. for instance,.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-should-remark-the-grace-and-fascination-that-there-is-even-in-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [When I met you you were oh so sweet, now you give me the bread and you take all the meat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-jett/when-i-met-you-you-were-oh-so-sweet-now-you-give-me-the-bread-and-you/) [Joan Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-jett/) > [When you fight to give your family bread, that's not passion anymore: that's conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoel-romero/when-you-fight-to-give-your-family-bread-that-s-not-passion-anymore/) [Yoel Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoel-romero/) > [I think the best Thanksgiving we ever had was one where we didn't even have a turkey. Mom and Dad sat us kids down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-think-the-best-thanksgiving-we-ever-had-was-one-where-we-didn-t/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Bread is a second cause; the LORD Himself is the first source of our sustenance. He can work without the second cause as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bread-is-a-second-cause-the-lord-himself-is-the-first-source-of-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Even if we have to go without bread, we Albanians do not violate principles. We do not betray Marxism - Leninism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enver-hoxha/even-if-we-have-to-go-without-bread-we-albanians-do-not-violate/) [Enver Hoxha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enver-hoxha/) > [Man preys on man; and you mourn for the idle tapestry that decorated a gothic pillar, and the dronish bell that summoned the fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/man-preys-on-man-and-you-mourn-for-the-idle-tapestry-that-decorated-a/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [“Nine times out of ten, people pick the wrong food. No, it’s not the sugar (GI = 68), it’s not the candy bar (GI…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-perlmutter/nine-times-out-of-ten-people-pick-the-wrong-food-no-it-s-not-the/) [David Perlmutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-perlmutter/) > [Waffles аrе јust awesome bread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/waffles-r-ust-awesome-bread/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [At my age, I don't buy but a half a loaf of bread, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/at-my-age-i-don-t-buy-but-a-half-a-loaf-of-bread-you-know/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [Jesus Christ would have been considered just another long-haired hippie freak if he hadn't been crucified. 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Cavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-cavanaugh/) [Browse all 2,164 Bread quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Juvenal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/the-people-that-once-bestowed-commands-consulships-legions-and-all/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bread" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/the-people-that-once-bestowed-commands-consulships-legions-and-all/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/juvenal-918_bread_the-people-that-once-bestowed-commands-c_1346390.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/juvenal-918_bread_the-people-that-once-bestowed-commands-c_1346390.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/juvenal-918_bread_the-people-that-once-bestowed-commands-c_1346390.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The people that once bestowed commands, consulships, legions, and all else, now concerns itself no more, and…” — Juvenal", "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": "Juvenal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The people that once bestowed commands,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/the-people-that-once-bestowed-commands-consulships-legions-and-all/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/the-people-that-once-bestowed-commands-consulships-legions-and-all/#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 } } ] } ```