I know not why any one but a schoolboy in his declamation should whine over the Commonwealth of Rome, which grew great only by the misery of the rest of mankind. The Romans, like others, as soon as they grew rich, grew corrupt; and in their corruption sold the lives and freedoms of themselves, and of one another.

Summary

This quote criticizes the idealization of the Roman Commonwealth by stating that only a young student would mourn over it. It suggests that the greatness of Rome was achieved at the expense of the suffering of other people. The quote argues that like any other civilization, once the Romans became wealthy, they also became morally corrupt. As a result of this corruption, they willingly sacrificed their own lives and freedom, as well as that of their fellow citizens, for personal gain.

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