[split] Psychology of the Roman soldier

[Bryan]

Bryan, this is why I tried to avoid this thread. People who don't have the same opinion as you or differing views sometimes can get hostile. I enjoy this site because it has good information and I feel like I'm with fellow historians with the same love for Ancient Roman history as I do. I'm afraid if I speak my mind I'll get banned hence trying to avoid this particular thread.

Machiavelli mentioned in the prince, that sometimes that in order to have peace you have to rule by fear when you can't rule by peace or both (ad libbing here). He was referring to Lucius Paullus Amelianus Macedonicus's destruction of Epirus after the 3rd Macedonian war with Perseus. He understood human nature, and what Pax Romano meant. Obviously they had a small rebellion with andriskos, and the Achaean league, but after that ancient Greece fighting days were done. Better to teach the Romans math and literature, rather then to face them with steel.

I remember reading about a WW2 vet talking about today's issues with extremist Islam. He mentioned Japan back in WW2 was similar to the extremist Islam. However back then we had a stomach to get things done. We no longer have ANY issues with Japanese extremism like we did 70 years ago. We have people who think peace is the way to prosperity. Those people don't understand hard men.

A good quote I've always liked. Good times make soft people. Soft people make hard times. Hard times makes hard people. Hard people make good times.

good quote indeed.