Wednesday, October 22, 2014

6020. CICERO IN 45 B.C.

CICERO IN 45 B.C.
Had his throat slit. It was in the Fall of
44, 6 months after the assassination of
Julius Caesar, when Cicero had written 
his treatise on the responsibilities of
'civilized' man. Yes, even back then. 
It was called 'De Officiis', and long
would outlive him. Church fathers, 
medieval grammarians, Renaissance 
humanists, they all loved it.
-
In 1455, shortly after Gutenberg had
printed his groundbreaking Bible, what 
was the second title to roll off the presses?
Why, none other than 'De Officiis.'
-
Having his breakfast one day, of a creamed 
and curdled yellow milk, Cicero said, 'Well,
now. What is all this?' His man-servant, in a 
dutiful service, replied, 'Why sir, it is nothing
alone, yet is a jumble of oh so many things.
I think they shall be calling it 'the Future.'

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