Panem et Circenses "Bread and Circuses"

[brian]

I came across this phrase in a book yesterday and I can't help but share it here. It comes from the Roman writer Juvenal around 100 AD. 

The general idea is that all that is needed to take a man's freedom away is to keep him well fed and entertained: bread and circuses. 
I believe this analogy can be applied to so many situations in life and throughout history. The original text is used to describe how the Roman empire was able to take away the freedom of its citizens. From the book "Through the Eyes of a Lion" by Levi Lusko - "The free food and entertainment acted as an anesthetic". The book then goes on to describe from a Christian context how Satan may not always attack a person with outright evil, but subtly pacify a person with comfort, making them ineffective in their Christian mission. 

Also you can find a nod to the phrase in the "Hunger Games" trilogy. The capitol city is named Panem, and the phrase kind of plays to the spirit of the movie. 

I posted in the Leadership forum because I think it's an inspiring idea to stay uncomfortable and never satisfied in leadership and personal development.

I would love to hear other's thoughts on this idea and examples in life and history.

Thanks

[mynewunit]

I totally agree. My mother was a Russian teacher, so I met many Russians and read lots of books about their history and culture. Mostly because when I was in middle school, the USSR became Russia and a handful of other countries.
Russia had a good understanding of how to make their people content. One of the other things they found was important was to make things feel like tasks. Bread Lines. Also, their entertainment was never individuals. Circus, Ballet, etc.

[A]

yea, little late on this one, but yes, I totally agree Brian, except its a latin phrase invented by the Romans to keep the masses content while they slowly starved them. But yes the USSR also employed the same concept to great effect. They also employed the whole, find all the leaders and systematically kill them to great effect. and slavery...all the best ideas really. I wonder what's wrong w letting asswipes take over the world, its not like they're gonna destroy everything and then usher in a dark age or anything like that.

What does this remind me of right now....huh...who is creating a circus as a diversion...while ppl are suffering?

sweet dreams. mine are fabulous, haven't had a dream in a few yrs now, but hey who's counting.