Cicero the breathtaking

In the fall, an old book called On Duties by Cicero, the Roman statesman, philosopher and orator, was exceptionally helpful to me. I taught the history of ancient political thought, and in the sessions before and during the election we read Cicero.

Truth be told, I had always found On Duties the most boring book ever. That changed this year. In November, reading Cicero’s steady, even, unchanging prose against the backdrop of the frenzied froth of our own politics, I finally got it.

Cicero was a Stoic, someone who insisted that happiness lay in not letting emotional tumult rule one’s existence.

Julius Caesar was assassinated a mere six months before Cicero wrote the book. The leading Roman politicians were vying to master the power vacuum left by Caesar’s demise. No one closely involved in Roman politics was safe in their person, possession or loved ones. In fact, Cicero would be killed in little more than a year. In the wake of Caesar’s assassination he had retreated to his country house to write.

Thus emerges On Duties, a performance of calm amid chaos, of commitment to virtue and self- mastery amid bloodthirsty violence. Cicero’s goal was recovery of the Roman Republic. Our goal should be the achievement of an indivisible America with liberty and justice for all. He failed at his goal. We may still hope to succeed at ours.

On Duties is not boring, it turns out, but breathtaking. Read On Duties now, keeping in mind the turbulence of Roman politics, and let yourself be suffused with awe. To be calm in chaos is an epic achievement. For us, too, these aren’t ordinary times, and in such times the first step toward beating back disabling turbulence is finding the steadiness of mind necessary to keep control of one’s own agenda.

Donald Trump’s scattershot fire- setting serves a political purpose. It sets those who would hold him accountable constantly chasing after another potential crisis, unable to set their own agenda. Time and talent are consumed figuring out which of his many surprising pronouncements merit attention. The carefully crafted atmosphere of uncertainty keeps everyone on the back foot. As Trump sparks firestorms of wasteful emotional energy, the conflagration of talent adds massively to history’s ash bin. In this environment we would all benefit from some Stoic equilibrium. Who cares if presidential access helps Ivanka Trump sell jewelry? Who cares if Donald Trump ditches his press pool to play golf? Our talents, energies and commitment are needed for more important work than fending off kleptocracy or knowing where Trump is at all times. It’s OK not to respond to every single startling thing.

What, we may ask, would it take to achieve America indivisible with liberty and justice for all? Democrats, what are you doing for that cause? Congressional Republicans, how about you?

I’ve got my eye on America Indivisible, the true goal, and for that clarity of focus, I thank a most unlikely benefactor, a Roman politician.