---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He [Lucius Papirius Cursor] then gave the…"
description: "\"“He [Lucius Papirius Cursor] then gave the order to advance the standards and led out his troops, expostulating on the folly of a people [Tarentum] whi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1a/livy-3007_incompetent_he-lucius-papirius-cursor-then-gave-the_438935.png"
---

#  He \[Lucius Papirius Cursor\] then gave the order to advance…

![“He [Lucius Papirius Cursor] then gave the order to advance the standards and led out his troops, expostulating on the folly of a people [Tarentum] which was incompetent to manage its own affairs because of internal strife and discord, but yet thought fit to prescribe limits to peace and war for…” quote by Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1a/livy-3007_incompetent_he-lucius-papirius-cursor-then-gave-the_438935.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1a/livy-3007_incompetent_he-lucius-papirius-cursor-then-gave-the_438935.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1a/livy-3007_incompetent_he-lucius-papirius-cursor-then-gave-the_438935.png)

> ““He \[Lucius Papirius Cursor\] then gave the order to advance the standards and led out his troops, expostulating on the folly of a people \[Tarentum\] which was incompetent to manage its own affairs because of internal strife and discord, but yet thought fit to prescribe limits to peace and war for others.””

[Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/)

## About This Quote

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

A commander criticized a city’s internal chaos while imposing its own limits on peace and war for others.

**In simple terms:** Leaders judge others while ignoring their own flaws.

Key Takeaway

Beware hypocrisy in leadership.

Themes

politics leadership hypocrisy

Mood

critical historical

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- political debates
- military planning
- organizational policy

Key Concepts

governance military strategy ethical double standards

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance criticism with self‑examination?
- When is imposing standards justified?

A Different Perspective

Context may differ; not all leaders are hypocritical.

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## More by Livy

> [Present sufferings seem far greater to men than those they merely dread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/present-sufferings-seem-far-greater-to-men-than-those-they-merely/)

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> [The study of History is the best medicine for a sick mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/the-study-of-history-is-the-best-medicine-for-a-sick-mind/)

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[Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/)

> [There is an old saying which, from its truth, has become proverbial, that friendships should be immortal, enmities mortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/there-is-an-old-saying-which-from-its-truth-has-become-proverbial/)

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> [Bad beginnings, bad endings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/bad-beginnings-bad-endings/)

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## More Incompetent quotes

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