A Pillar of Iron: A Novel of Ancient Rome

by Taylor Caldwell

When you discover a man who seeks power for himself, out of hatred or contempt for his fellows, destroy him, Marcus. If a man seeks office because he secretly despises what he calls ‘the mass,’ and wishes to control them into slavery, with promises of luxuries they have not earned, expose him. You must consider Rome.”

“It is hard to say which is more evil,” said Marcus Livius Drusus, tribune,† “those who bribe the masses, or the masses who receive the bribe. It is true that the briber corrupts; it is also true that he who accepts the bribe is the greater criminal.

Ansolutely, and true today!

But the noble Drusus believed that all men possessed souls and were therefore beloved of God, and that he who degrades a human soul or despises it would be eternally condemned.

Me, too.

He could not know that nations never draw back from the abyss, for he still had illusions, he still believed that a corrupt nation could become pious and virtuous again, “if the people willed.” Not until the moment of his assassination did he realize that corruption is not reversible, when that corruption was deep in the bowels of a nation.

So sadly true.

“My grandfather always asserted that when Romans are governed by men and not by law, then Rome must fall.”

And the same is true for the USA today.

But I tell you that the day is coming when Rome will have no law whatsoever but the decree of tyrants.”

And I’m afraid the same is true here in the USA.

Love of country is often confused in simple minds with love of one’s government.