Compassion Quote by Michael Korda
“Citizens of Rome might boast that the claim of 'Civus romanus sum' set them apart from barbarians and slaves, and it was true up to a point, but Roman citizens lived in a society that accepted pain, cruelty, and torture as the norm, and in which there was no suggestion of equality at birth or mercy in the afterlife.”
About This Quote
The quote highlights the paradox of Roman citizenship: pride in legal status coexisted with systemic brutality and a lack of innate equality or compassion.
In simple terms: Roman pride vs. harsh reality
Key Takeaway
Legal status doesn't guarantee humane society
Themes
Power
Social hierarchy
Legal identity
Human rights
Historical paradox
Mood
Reflective
Critical
Somber
Type
Historical observation
Philosophical critique
When to use this quote
- Studying ancient legal systems
- Comparing modern citizenship rights
- Analyzing imperial propaganda
- Teaching Roman history
- Debating moral foundations of law
Key Concepts
Citizenship
Barbarian contrast
Social inequality
State-sanctioned violence
Practical Applications
- Historical analysis of Roman law
- Modern civic education
Questions to Reflect On
- How does legal privilege affect moral behavior?
- What lessons can contemporary societies draw from Rome's contradictions?
![“O [Roman] people be ashamed; be ashamed of your lives. Almost no cities are free of evil dens, are altogether free of impurities, except the cities in which the barbarians have begun to live... Let nobody think otherwise, the vices of our bad lives have alone conquered us... The Goths lie, but are…” quote by William J Federer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e27/william-j-federer-42686_ashamed_o-roman-people-be-ashamed-be-ashamed-of_2526924.jpg)
![“[Roman] society became steadily more cosmopolitan. By 212 A.D., all inhabitants of the empire, except for slaves, were deemed to be citizens. The old Roman aristocracy was not fixated upon race and color. Wealth and literacy were what opened the doors of their urban mansions and country villas.” quote by Norman F. Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9b0/norman-f-cantor-15048_quote_roman-society-became-steadily-more-cosmo_2570105.jpg)
