Ur Eyes Quote by Petronius
““All those who are left legacies in my will…will obtain my bequests only on one condition, that they cut my body in pieces and eat it before the eyes of the citizens…You must merely shield your eyes, and imagine that what you have swallowed is not human entrails but ten million sesterces.””
About This Quote
Source Satire: Satyricon, 1st century AD
The speaker mocks the greed of heirs, demanding they consume his corpse as a grotesque payment, highlighting the absurdity of material obsession.
In simple terms: Greedy heirs must literally eat the dead for money.
Key Takeaway
Beware letting wealth corrupt morality.
Themes
greed
satire
morality
legacy
power
Mood
dark
cynical
ironic
Type
satirical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- inheritance disputes
- political corruption
- family feuds
Key Concepts
human nature
corruption
ritual sacrifice
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the demand to eat the body symbolize?
- How does satire expose moral decay?
A Different Perspective
The hyperbolic violence may obscure the underlying critique of avarice.
