The man who resisted luxury and diversity

From Plutarch’s Life of Marcus Cato:

For now the state, unable to keep its purity by reason of its greatness, and having so many affairs, and people from all parts under its government, was fain to admit many mixed customs and new examples of living. With reason, therefore, everybody admired Cato, when they saw others sink under labours and grow effeminate by pleasures; and yet beheld him unconquered by either …

Note: The website from which I copied the above passage misspelled “mixed customs” as follows, which somehow seems appropriate:

For now the state, unable to keep its purity by reason of its greatness, and having so many affairs, and people from all parts under its government, was fain to admit many mixed customers and new examples of living.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at May 27, 2002 11:31 AM | Send