Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
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Plutarch <strong>and</strong> the Greece <strong>of</strong> His Age<br />
dition <strong>of</strong> things that usually exists where there is no<br />
strong <strong>and</strong> wholesome public opinion. The usurpers<br />
in the Greek cities, <strong>and</strong> later, the Roman provincial<br />
governors, were, with rare exceptions, men <strong>of</strong> loose<br />
nioials if not worse. The private life <strong>of</strong> its repre<br />
sentatives was a matter with which the home govern<br />
ment did not concern itself, <strong>and</strong> the subjects were<br />
const:aiiied to be dumb. Now <strong>and</strong> then one <strong>of</strong> these<br />
petty sovereigns ruled wisely according to the st<strong>and</strong><br />
ards <strong>of</strong>: the time, <strong>and</strong> the public was satisfied,<br />
especially if they knew how to maintain brilliant<br />
courts, <strong>and</strong> to adorn their capitals with imposing<br />
structures.<br />
It was so easy to trump up the charge <strong>of</strong><br />
sedition against persons who refused to be servile<br />
flatterers, that only the most courageous dared to<br />
st<strong>and</strong> alo<strong>of</strong>.<br />
Finlay, though somewhat given to paint<br />
ing in strong colors, is probably not far wrong when<br />
he says: It is difficult to imagine a society more<br />
completely destitute <strong>of</strong> moral restraint than that in<br />
which the Asiatic Greeks lived. Public opinion was<br />
powerless to enforce even an outward respect for<br />
virtue; mi.itary accomplishments, talents for civil ad<br />
ministration, literary eminence <strong>and</strong> devotion to the<br />
power <strong>of</strong> an arbitrary sovereign, were the direct roads<br />
to distinction <strong>and</strong> wealth; honesty <strong>and</strong> virtue were<br />
very secondary qualities. In old countries or societies<br />
where a class becomes predominant, a conventional<br />
character is formed, according to the exigencies <strong>of</strong><br />
the case, as the st<strong>and</strong>ard <strong>of</strong> an honorable man; <strong>and</strong> it<br />
is usually very different indeed from what is really<br />
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