Sallust

Caius Sallustius Crispus, 86 B.C.–c.34 B.C., Roman historian.

I found Sallust quoted in a magazine I'm reading and decided to post some of it here because I thought it so fitting. He is speaking about the Roman empire, but doesn't it sound familiar?

"As soon as their power advanced, thanks to their laws , their moral standards, and the increases of their territory, and they were observed to be very flourishing and very powerful, then, as generally happens in human history, prosperity gave rise to envy. Neighboring kings and people therefore made trial of them in war: only a few of their friends came to help: the rest, paralyzed with fear, kept well out of danger. But the Romans, alert both in peace and war, acted with energy, made their preparations, gave mutual encouragement, advanced to meet the enemy, and with their arms, defended their liberty, their country, their parents. Then, when they had by their courage dispersed those perils, they brought help to their friends, and won friendship rather by rendering services than by receiving them."

If anyone cares, the magazine is First Things and it's one of my favorites.