T

May 4th

WHAT’S  TRULY   IMPRESSIVE

“How    much    better  is  it  to  be  known   for doing   well    by  many    than    for living  extravagantly?  How

much    more    worthy  than    spending    on  sticks  and stones  is  it  to  spend   on  people?”

—MUSONIUS   RUFUS,  LECTURES,   19.91.26–28

hink of all you know about the lifestyles of the rich and the famous. That so-and-so bought a home for
so many millions. That so-and-so travels with their own barber. That so-and-so owns a pet tiger or
an elephant.
The exact same gossip and notoriety was popular in Roman times. Certain Romans were known for
the thousands of sesterces they spent on their koi ponds. Others were notorious for orgiastic parties and
sumptuous feasts. The works of Roman poets such as Juvenal and Martial abound with tidbits about these
types.
The conspicuously wealthy earn and ultimately get what they want out of spending: their reputation.
But what an empty one! Is it really that impressive to spend, spend, spend? Given the funds, who wouldn’t
be able to do that?
Marcus Aurelius courageously sold off some of the imperial furnishings to pay down war debts. More
recently, José Mujica, the former president of Uruguay, stood out for giving 90 percent of his presidential
salary to charity and driving a twenty-five-year-old car. Who can do stuff like that? Not everyone. So
who’s the more impressive?