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When you read Cicero, the great Roman Philosopher, and his "Six Mistakes of Man" you can't help but think that he may have been wasting his time. Maybe the old man was just having one of those days when nothing particularly witty was passing through his philosophical pen and boredom was overwhelming his normally acute mental prowess. After all, no one needs to be reminded what should be simple common sense ... particularly the leaders of powerful tribes, religious institutions, villages, towns, cities, or vast empires ... right?
Maybe he was writing to the lowly everyday citizen that lacked in philosophical understanding and he decided to instruct them in this brand of sound wisdom. Who knows what he was thinking?!?
For those of us that need a refresher glance at the "Six Mistakes of Man", here they are:
The delusion that personal gain is made by crushing others
Everyone knows that might doesn't make right. Come on, Cicero, even the grade school playground bully knows that ... even when he is beating the hell out of you. However, the reality of that choice doesn't become readily apparent until he gets a brutal beating himself.
The tendency to worry about things that cannot be changed or corrected
That's correct ... just ask the Jews or any other faction who did not toe the line that the Roman Empire laid out, or any of the American Southern states that desired to secede from the union, or our Founders who had heard enough lip from the Church of England. All of them decided that they were not going to worry about those things that could not be changed or corrected and concentrate on those things that could.
Insisting that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it
See last statement above.
Refusing to set aside trivial preferences
This is too radical of an idea for me to comprehend. I am going to seek out political and religious counseling for this one. Maybe I can have my mind transformed by those who are totally unified.
Neglecting development and refinement of the mind, and not acquiring the habit of reading and studying
This one I understand a little better. Yes, it would be a horrible mistake if any nation's government would rather that its citizens spend their valuable time working two or three jobs or attempting to find one, whatever the case may be, than reading and studying about subjects that would educate them to better understand how their government works; how foreign policy can affect how the world judges their country; how financial factors drive wars and enforce policies instead of issuing a pretense that claims the struggle is defending its people and its freedoms; and ... well, you get the picture. However, this is one that we need not worry about because our leaders are always looking out for our best interests and they understand that here in this country, the people rule and they would never, ever, ever consider violating our trust.
Attempting to compel others to believe and live as we do
This is similar to the trivial preferences above. Anyway, that kind of action would be considered too aggressive and hostile for any civilized, technologically driven, advanced nation to even give a passing thought. They would understand that diversity is what keeps new ideas germinating.
I still can't figure out why Cicero thought that he needed to write this list. Since he was around during the time that the Roman Empire was beginning to lose their dominance maybe he felt that some kind of warning needed to be issued. But, why? That great empire only desired what was best for its people - like all empires do. Well, according to the leaders, that is.
There was a great deal of prosperity while they were in power ... plenty of food ... increase in the arts and architecture ... the citizens enjoying luxuries that was unheard of prior to their rule ... great roads ... powerful military ... and the peace that was being enjoyed as the result of total conquest.
What did Rome's leaders possibly need to know for it to get any better?
I wonder if anyone informed Rome's leaders about how comical Cicero's six mistakes appeared?
If they did, I wonder if anyone listened?
by Keith Simerson (click here for more articles), who is a self-employed foundryman and sculptor as well as an Air Force veteran in the security field. See his website at www.stonereproductionworks.com, and his blog at www.goodnevilguy.blogspot.com.
