The Roman Virtues (2024)

Personal Virtues

These are the qualities of life to which every citizen should aspire. They are the heart of the Via Romana--theRoman Way--and are thought to be those qualities which gave the RomanRepublic the moral strength to conquer and civilize the world:

Auctoritas--"Spiritual Authority": The sense of one's socialstanding, built up through experience, Pietas, and Industria.
Comitas--"Humor": Ease of manner, courtesy, openness, andfriendliness.
Clementia--"Mercy": Mildness and gentleness.
Dignitas--"Dignity": A sense of self-worth, personal pride.
Firmitas--"Tenacity": Strength of mind, the ability to stick toone's purpose.
Frugalitas--"Frugalness": Economy and simplicity of style, withoutbeing miserly.
Gravitas--"Gravity": A sense of the importance of the matter athand, responsibility and earnestness.
Honestas--"Respectibility": The image that one presents as arespectable member of society.
Humanitas--"Humanity": Refinement, civilization, learning, and beingcultured.
Industria--"Industriousness": Hard work.
Pietas--"Dutifulness": More than religious piety; a respect for thenatural order socially, politically, and religiously. Includes the ideasof patriotism and devotion to others.
Prudentia--"Prudence": Foresight, wisdom, and personal discretion.
Salubritas--"Wholesomeness": Health and cleanliness.
Severitas--"Sternness": Gravity, self-control.
Veritas--"Truthfulness": Honesty in dealing with others.

Interestingly, these are also the virtues practiced by the pets.comhandpuppet who, like the Roman Empire, is no longer doing business. Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned from this fascinating historicalparallel. The missing virtue in both cases seems to be sustainable-asincome-as growth-as, accompanied, at least in the Empire's case, by anunfortunate penchant for drinking and eating from bowls either made oflead or decorated with lead-based paints.

HOME