Rome's Last Citizen: The Life and Legacy of Cato, Mortal Enemy of Caesar (Rob Goodman)

www.cato.org/events/romes-last...
Marcus Porcius Cato, known as Cato the Younger, was a Stoic philosopher and a Roman senator - and the last man standing when Rome's republic fell to tyranny. His blood feud with Caesar began in the chamber of the Senate, played out on the battlefields of a world war, and ended when he took his own life rather than live under a dictator. Centuries of thinkers, writers, and artists have drawn inspiration from Cato's example. Saint Augustine and the early Christians were moved and challenged by his example. Dante, in his poem The Divine Comedy, chose Cato to preside over the souls who arrive in Purgatory. George Washington so revered him that he staged the play Cato to revive the spirits of his troops at Valley Forge. And of course his defense of the republic against the coming of tyranny inspired the 18th-century authors of Cato's Letters, which in turn were read by many of the American Founders and provided the name of the Cato Institute. Now, in Rome's Last Citizen, Rob Goodman and Jimmy Soni deliver the first modern biography of this stirring figure.

[@antoniosorrenti9329]

the greatest man i have ever heard of, he is my daily inspiration , he is the kind of man i want to be. Long live Cato's memory, justice, virtue, compassion, love and Freedom!

[@dragonslayer7627]

He was an old fart.

[@fariborzgolriz7315]

Those who don’t know philosophy will always be lame.

[@youngin5112]

Antonio Sorrenti fuck cato

[@imagiraffe4870]

@@dragonslayer7627 It says Cato the Younger in his name, DUH

[@yesdvt]

These idiots saying that cato was an old fart are just idiots. Cato was a young guy. Younger than Kaizar. And yes its not Cesar but Kaizar.

[@redjirachi1]

How much of his hatred for Caesar came from the fact his sister was Caesar's favorite mistress?

[@username-wq4us]

Such a thing was not uncommon in this time. Very little, I wager.

[@logos3522]

And you blame him or Julius?

[@chrisbloomgren822]

Kind of left out Cicero who presided over that execution

[@Cato229]

These are stories that are worthy of remembering.

[@freesk8]

George Washington is said to have loved the play "Cato."

[@gregalexludwig]

Great presentation, thanks for uploading!!

[@RebelRadius]

That was terrific!

[@MrThomasdichmont]

the speech that changed the senate was made by Cicero.

[@musilily926]

no, Cicero initally convinced the senate to his case, but after caeser's speech all were voting his way, then Cato spoke is a very convincing manner and swayed the senate back to the execution standpoint.

[@bluelithium9808]

True. It was Cicero who killed the conspirators and argued in the Senate.

[@SentMKG]

This is a fantastic video and discussion from this organization. Love it Cato keep it up guys.

[@penguinistas]

Excellent.

[@dj.deb.usa007justiceangels6]

Thanks for the ART THERAPY 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 VIDEOS

[@Dark0Knight94]

You would find that Marcellus forced Pompey to turn against Caesar, cato just supported Marcellus.

[@adamhouse6305]

Cato & Kato are great!

[@balzache]

2:42 I thought someone was trying to get my attention in my home lmao

[@FrasiIndelebili]

you are right Bearded Snowden

[@vespasianflaviustheemperor7901]

😂😂😂 crucifixions for all.

[@bluelithium9808]

Cato spent his entire life protecting the elite oligarchy under the banner of protecting Romes traditions. Look where that got the oligarchy "Republic."

[@maximilienfrancoisderobesp202]

Fuck this. Caesar Aeternum!

[@Jack_804]

Shut up anglo

[@Pseudonym25]

Cato Uticensis!

[@James_Wisniewski]

Victrix causa deis placuit sed victa Catoni.

[@alanmedina8231]

Nihil novi sub sole

[@freedomworks3976]

Cato was a straight up OG gangsta 😤 💯

[@Aemilius46]

Cato the Younger was a Great Roman!! I personally prefer his Ancestor, Marcus Porcius Cato "The Elder"! The type of Roman that would stand for his Virtues, and his Nation, even if it meant standing alone! 🛡️🗡️

[@sameerthakur720]

I like the other Cato... The elder guy who said, "Delenda Carthago. "

[@kappaklaus2671]

One of the greatest men that ever lived, and certainly Rome's finest. A hero of the people and an icon still. He saw through the charade of Roman politics and tried his best to save Rome from corrupt senators. Long live Julius Caesar's memory!

[@Insectoid_]

How??? He only ever wanted the rich to be richer and in control. He was trash.

[@Mark-ok8ss]

Cato would never support a Kenyan from Hawaii, he was a man who refused to accept change. He truly destroyed the country he loved

[@deplorablesecuritydevices]

The part of Cato's story which sticks out to me the most was when he abandoned his trusted war horse in spain(?) because it was inefficient to bring it back to Rome. No one mentions that but it reminds me of how inhumane a disciplined life can appear.

[@TheDigitalStoic]

Abandoning a horse is considered inhumane? I wonder what your opinions are on eating any sort of meat!

[@MrThomasdichmont]

cicero came up with optimates

[@hikhuphoenix4107]

Well, this guy is not biased at all. . .

[@educationalramblings6826]

I would place the life Mandela next to anyone’s as an example of living one’s principles ....

[@vespasianflaviustheemperor7901]

Then you should check out whats going on there now.

[@benjaminking6583]

We need Cato today

[@Abhorrentchild]

We really do...

[@rehmsmeyer]

I liked it until I tried to make sense of how politics can exist unaffected by self-interest. I just cannot get behind that one.

[@ShinjiHirako777]

Cato was a stoic. He was an ideolgoue and a devout follower of that philosophical sect. He followed that way of living thoroughly.

[@davestuddaman8127]

Which is why you must have a rotation of politicians. Every 4 years

[@marcuscato3599]

Cato was too truthful.

[@dj.deb.usa007justiceangels6]

Dante's inferno

[@netizencapet]

CaTo is the only think tank on the Right that I can tolerate because they at least have some elemental commitment to principle and human dignity. Through I don't concur with what I perceive as their simplistic and ill-conceived economic doctrines.

[@skpr01]

cato is just who i wish i could be. principle is more important then public relations. all day. every day.

[@theheiroflotharingia8543]

until said principles leads to the death of the things you are principled towards

[@Mocoso7]

O.o

[@pasquino0733]

How on earth does your site you get limited government from Cato? The Phaedo that Cato reads is by someone who is all about serious government intervention i.e. Plato - The Republic. All the great classical authors are about government involvement in statehood. The Nicomachean Ethics etc...

[@pasquino0733]

@@Nov1706 They stand for it and yes of course I did. Cato and ALL of classical philosophy and virtue ethics are completely contrary to the concept of limited government, which this group espouses. Cato, Cicero - earlier Aristotle - are all about virtue being defined IN relation to the far reaching power and existence of the state.

[@pasquino0733]

@@Nov1706 Fascinating that you've just made an assertion, versus a reply based on critical thinking - or what classical philosophy terms reason.

[@premjianand3210]

Soni's laughs are disturbing.

[@trashlag]

Cato threw

[@andywomack3414]

So this think tank is named for an effective orator advancing the interests of a wealthy elite and leading the call for the Carthaginian genocide. Oh, that was his dad.

[@matthewgraham6980]

And the capital and a state are named for an effective leader and slave owner, I.e Washington. Grow up. People aren’t perfect but we can still admire and study their lives.

[@cellocovers3982]

Yes, we were the best, that is why we are on top.

[@andywomack3414]

​@@matthewgraham6980 You miss my point.

[@andywomack3414]

@@emresener08 I get your point. Clumsy me. "Wealthy elites" or something like that would have been a better choice. Thanks for the edit.

[@andywomack3414]

@@matthewgraham6980 I did. Made appropriate edit.

[@yunleung2631]

Hail Caesar! Imperator victor! I much rather have a Caesar than a Cato, corruptly defending the interest of the elites.

[@Jack_804]

Bruh, Caeser literally bougth votes for magistrate in Rome, he was the corrupt tyrant that destroied democracy in ancient rome.

[@silversnail1413]

You end up a slave at the end of the day regardless, so what does it matter? I highly doubt Caesar cared that much about the common people anyway, he was just manipulating them for political clout and using them as a shield to deflect from the consequences of his growing tyranny.

[@yunleung2631]

@@silversnail1413 That's what the ancient writers thought, but let's keep in mind they're mostly from the aristocracy. Rich oligarchs that controlled the country. Rome was a slave-centric society, but if I was a citizen and social mobility wasn't bad, you could argue it's a good deal

[@olivergibbons9581]

Bernie Sanders is the closest thing we have to a modern day Cato. Change my mind.

[@filmicreviews3270]

Cato was a conservative and was against policies for land grants. His party that he led was very pro oligarchy.

[@panoskatrin4910]

@@filmicreviews3270 Bernie sanders is the closest example of an american politician at least today who can be compared to cato in terms of values and how uncompromising and stubborn they are in their beliefs, Bernie refused to be part of "identity politics" in the democratic party and has always focused on policies, Bernie is not a crowd appeaser he stands by what he believes just like cato, but other than that yea when it comes to policies cato was an ultra conservative who was in favor of oligarchy and had a very low opinion of the avarge roman citizens

[@Jack_804]

@@panoskatrin4910 What? Are you dumb? The Roman Republic died because of man like Sanders, Caeser was a socialist of his time.

[@panoskatrin4910]

@@Jack_804 land reform doesn't equal "ancient socialism" it is completely idiotic to compare a politician who ran for the presidency to a man who held both political and military power and had the support of the most power figures in his time

[@panoskatrin4910]

@@Jack_804 nvm I just realized ur a kid

[@henriomoeje8741]

This shd be a test for politicians. There are crazy people in congress today, not akin to public service.

[@maximilienfrancoisderobesp202]

Also, suicide is cowardice!

[@dsmyify]

Have you tried it?

[@thelastbison2241]

Too many fake Catos today.