Jeremy Gadd
MARCUS AURELIUS
Marcus Aurelius; emperor, soldier, philosopher king, saw the danger without – and from within. Realizing Rome had reached its peak, was culturally fragmenting, militarily weak and incapable of defeating its enemies, he confided his fears to his diaries and, in thoughts replete with humility incongruous with his imperial position and unheard of in previous Caesars, conceded the ship of state had struck shoals; accepted his mortality, that he served a greater entity, and found comfort for his troubled soul.
THE BEAST
The beast crouches in its cave scratching at the chip on its shoulder. It is focussed entirely on what it needs and craves and it feeds its habit with steroids and spite. Blinking at the light beyond its lair, it stares with malevolence, envy and hate at values it does not share. All is ugly to its bloodshot eyes. Whatever is wholesome is despised. Empathy, love, consideration are denigrated as belonging to civilisation. Blinded by hate, it cannot see beauty and irrationally bases its vicious view of the world on its malicious self.