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 .