Today I pay tribute to one of the most brilliant men in history who has faith and that return on the human race: Marco Porcius Cato. It was a Roman statesman born in Tusculum (234 BC) and came from an ancient plebeian family notable for some services in the army. He was raised in the manner of their ancestors Latinos dedicated to agriculture if not served the military legions. Attracted the attention of a noble Roman to see that he was versed in the classics, he advised her to participate in the life of Rome. Cato at first refused but finally agreed. Back in Rome became counsel noted for his eloquence, brilliance, mordacidaz and sarcasm in his speeches. Such was his success that his fame grew and allowed him to create his own "buffet" of lawyers. The patricians requested their services and thus agreed to the policy first as mayor of Rome (199 BC), then as praetor of Sicily (198 BC) and finally as consul (195 BC) office where he led the Roman legions in Hispania . He obtained a great victory for which no reimbursement or a coin, donating all to Rome, which earned him even greater popularity. Always ardently face corruption but also the invasion of Greek culture, the extravagance of the nobility, to spare Rome and lack of morality. This caused him great and powerful enemies who never could plunge politically suffering its rigor, as Publius Cornelius Scipio himself "El Africano". And Cato always noted for his humility, simplicity, love for their culture and especially for its consistency. He was much hated but nobody could say anything to the old Cato, lived humbly, wrote in Latin and was honest, Roman copy. Cato, unlike many people today including politicians and commoners like us, was a moral and consistent with what he said. His actions were consistent with his words and these have always been faithful to what is said in the past. Sun Tzu wrote centuries earlier in China: "Invincibility is in oneself, vulnerability in the opponent." Cato "The Elder" made his life a sturdy wall, no cracks, it made him go down in history and probably get done as a person.
Dear Captain:
Cato is also remarkable vision. He always had the certainty that Rome did not dominate until destroy Carthage. They could not leave an enemy alive so dangerous. It is famous the phrase constantly repeated in the Senate.
"Esse Carthaginem censeo ceterum delendam" (And I think that Carthage must be destroyed).
Best regards.
September 10th, 2008 @ 10:18