Juvenal was a Roman poet who was best known for his Satires, in which he harshly criticized the social, political, and moral failings of Roman society.
Quote of the day: “Give them bread and circuses and they’ll never rebel.” – Juvenal.
What does this quote mean?
Juvenal’s quote “Give them bread and circuses and they will never revolt” means that if rulers provide the people with basic necessities (bread) and entertainment or diversion (circuses), they will remain content and distracted and unlikely to challenge or oppose those in power.
Juvenal’s writings often exposed the corruption, greed and decadence of the Roman elite using wit and biting sarcasm.
Who was Juvenal?
Juvenal was a prominent Roman poet and satirist who lived in the late 1st and early 2nd centuries AD.
Unlike his predecessor Horace, whose satire was lighthearted and witty, Juvenal’s work is intense, sharp, and often exaggerated. He was motivated by indignation, a sense of righteous anger, against the corruption and moral decay he observed in Roman society.
His satires are bitter and dark, focusing on the hypocrisy, vice, and moral failure of the people, especially under emperors such as Domitian, Trajan, and Hadrian.
Juvenal had a major influence on later European literature.
His work influenced medieval and Renaissance writers as well as English satirists such as John Dryden, Alexander Pope and Samuel Johnson.
Today, the term “Juvenal” is still used to describe harsh, bitter and angry satire, as opposed to “Horatian” satire, which is lighter and more playful.
Other famous quotes from Juvenal
“It’s hard not to write satire.
“Who’s watching the watchers?”
“Many commit the same crime with a very different result. One bears a cross for his crime, another a crown.”
“The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.”
“Everyone wants knowledge, but few are willing to pay for it.”
“Fate would have no divinity if we were wise: it is we who make her a goddess and place her in heaven.”
