Thank you for this enjoyable piece. A true justice is required for right mercy. That is where Nero, et al, and we Americans, have erred. Most times when it doesn’t work, justice is driven by the self interest of those leaders; that becomes their (false) justice superseding their actual charge of justice: of the good of the people, all the people. I can understand politicians vilifying each other (much as I wish it were not so), but when they publicly vilify half the population (and both sides do it as do their constituents), I fear mercy is about as probable as with Nero. We all should,but with Nero won’t, heed Seneca’s wisdom.
“Acts of mercy, when acts of violence are just as accessible, speak greatly to the character of a man.
It shows that a ruler's true dedication is to virtue for the sake of virtue, and it proves that the king is for his subjects just as much as he is above them.”
Think of Today...no Mercy, no pardons, only vengeance and tribalism. Thousands of years later and we are further behind. Not further ahead.
Excellent story telling- always leaving wanting more. I only wish there was some wisdom to be had addressing a pathway to deal with generational religion-driven hatred and indoctrination.
Very well scripted and insightful. Nero must have been a derranged ruler devoid of any compassion not to mention reason, seeking only personal glory in a narssistic fashion.
Seneca On Clemency
A very timely post, thank you!
Thank you for this enjoyable piece. A true justice is required for right mercy. That is where Nero, et al, and we Americans, have erred. Most times when it doesn’t work, justice is driven by the self interest of those leaders; that becomes their (false) justice superseding their actual charge of justice: of the good of the people, all the people. I can understand politicians vilifying each other (much as I wish it were not so), but when they publicly vilify half the population (and both sides do it as do their constituents), I fear mercy is about as probable as with Nero. We all should,but with Nero won’t, heed Seneca’s wisdom.
“Acts of mercy, when acts of violence are just as accessible, speak greatly to the character of a man.
It shows that a ruler's true dedication is to virtue for the sake of virtue, and it proves that the king is for his subjects just as much as he is above them.”
Think of Today...no Mercy, no pardons, only vengeance and tribalism. Thousands of years later and we are further behind. Not further ahead.
Thanks for Your Terrific Work and Wordsmithing.
Brian
Excellent story telling- always leaving wanting more. I only wish there was some wisdom to be had addressing a pathway to deal with generational religion-driven hatred and indoctrination.
Very well scripted and insightful. Nero must have been a derranged ruler devoid of any compassion not to mention reason, seeking only personal glory in a narssistic fashion.
Seneca did the best he could, but didn't know that he was talking to a wall.