The teacher reminded us that Romes liberties were not auctioned off in a day, but were bought slowly, gradually, furtively, little by little; first with a little corn and oil for the exceedingly poor and wretched, later with corn and oil for voters who were not quite so poor, later still with corn and oil for pretty much every man that had a vote to sellexactly our own history over again.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the gradual erosion of civil liberties in Rome, comparing it to the similar pattern seen in the speaker's contemporary society. The teacher highlights how Rome's liberties were not taken away abruptly but instead were slowly and incrementally traded for basic necessities, like corn and oil, beginning with the poorest citizens. As time went on, the exchange extended to voters who were not as impoverished, eventually encompassing almost every man with a vote. The quote suggests that this pattern of sacrificing freedom for immediate benefits is recurring throughout history, including in the present society.