Suetonius, in holding up a mirror to those Caesars of diverting legend, reflects not only them but ourselves: half-tamed creatures, whose great moral task is to hold in balance the angel and the monster within - for we are both, and to ignore this duality is to invite disaster.

Suetonius

Categorized in : Mirrors Angel Balance

If you did not know at age five that the gods are made up beings and the myths made up stories, you are a fool.

made-up-stories fool age

Few of Caesar's assassins outlived him by more than three years,... by Suetonius

Few of Caesar's assassins outlived him by more than three years, or died in their beds.

bed three years

He [Caesar Augustus] found a city built of brick; he left it buil... by Suetonius

He [Caesar Augustus] found a city built of brick; he left it built of marble.

augustus-caesar bricks cities

The fox changes his skin but not his habits. by Suetonius

The fox changes his skin but not his habits.

habit skins foxes

A good shepherd shears his flock, not flays them. by Suetonius

A good shepherd shears his flock, not flays them.

shears flocks shepherds

At a banquet Caligula was suddenly seized with a fit of helpless laughter. The consuls reclining next to him asked if they might share in the imperial merriment. Caligula, wiping the tears from his eyes, managed to gasp, "You'll never guess! It suddenly occurred to me that I had only to give a single nod, and both your throats would be cut on the spot."

laughter cutting eye

As the Jews were making constant disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he [ Claudius ] expelled them [the Jews] from Rome

jew rome constant

Let the die be cast. by Suetonius

Let the die be cast.

casts fate dies

Would that the Roman people had but one neck! by Suetonius

Would that the Roman people had but one neck!

necks rome people

When I am dead let the earth be dissolved in fire. by Suetonius

When I am dead let the earth be dissolved in fire.

future earth fire

Punishment [by Nero] was inflicted on the Christians, a class of men given to a new and mischievous superstition.

christian class men

Hail, Caesar, those who are about to die salute thee. by Suetonius

Hail, Caesar, those who are about to die salute thee.

hail thee latin

These things by reason of our friendship I have not hesitated glo... by Suetonius

These things by reason of our friendship I have not hesitated glo to communicate.

communicate reason

I found Rome built of bricks; I leave her clothed in marble. by Suetonius

I found Rome built of bricks; I leave her clothed in marble.

bricks rome found

General Quotations about Evenings Let us add this one more night... by Suetonius

General Quotations about Evenings Let us add this one more night to our lives.

evening add night

Again, during a sacrifice, the augur Spurinna warned Caesar that the danger threatening him would not come later than the Ides of March.

march threatening sacrifice