Liked this passage citing the work of the French revolution era thinker Benjamin Constant..
".. the ancients conquered peoples but did not seek to dominate and regulate all activities"
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"They were “satisfied with general obedience,” and ignored the “charm” of everyday life—childhood, local customs, and gods. But the modern conquerors differ"
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"They want to impose everywhere “the same code of law, the same measures, the same regulations, and if they could . . . the same language.”"
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"They “wish their empire to present an appearance of uniformity, upon which the proud eye of power may travel without meeting any unevenness that could offend or limit its view.” "
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"For Constant, the goal of “uniformity” drives the modern despot.
For the contemporary tyrant, “it is a pity that one cannot destroy all towns to rebuild them according to the same plan, and level all mountains to make the ground even everywhere.”"
/End