Thursday, March 17, 2022
National Characters
Livy 45.23.14 (speech of the Rhodian ambassadors; tr. Alfred C. Schlesinger):
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The character of states is like that of individual men; some nations are hot-tempered, some bold, some diffident, some over-indulgent in wine, others in sex.Cf. id., 45.30.7:
tam civitatium quam singulorum hominum mores sunt; gentes quoque aliae iracundae, aliae audaces, quaedam timidae, in vinum, in venerem proniores aliae sunt.
This part of the world is as a whole cold, difficult to cultivate, and harsh; it has inhabitants of temperament like their land.
frigida haec omnis duraque cultu et aspera plaga est; cultorum quoque ingenia terrae similia habet.
