Tragedy comes from flawed character, not capricious fate. Not everyone has flawed character.
Example #1 is George Washington. George Washington was known as President George Washington and not King Washington. Why? Because he retired. He quit!
He had people begging him to stay on and run things. He was popular and respected. But he stepped down and walked away. I’m in awe every time I think about it.
I’m voluntarily turning the Republic over to the People. You assholes had better not fuck it up!
He had a farm to run and a porch to sit on. Unlike Ginsberg or Byrd he was willing to let other folks take up the yoke. Unlike Hillary, he didn’t need to be in charge to validate himself. Well played sir!
Example #2 is a Roman Emperor called Diocletian (technically Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus Augustus). He was in charge from 284 to 305 and when I say “in charge” I mean absolute total dominating power. Washington had popularity and balls of steel and an epic wig but Diocletian had a whole different dimension of power.
He came to “office” during a desperate bloody situation that made the American Revolution look like a scrimmage. Rome was embroiled in a half century Game of Thrones Clusterfuck of Doom. It had nearly toppled an empire that correctly saw itself as the greatest in all of civilization. (Don’t give me shit about China or some schmucks in the Andes… I’m talking the goddamn Roman Empire not long after it’s height of power. At the time it was the main planetary colossus.)
Romans never sorted out a proper method of peaceful succession; especially after Julius Caesar decided voting was for pussies and used his army to turn the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. By Diocletian’s time the place was in constant civil war. They had a “Emperor For Life” die every other year or so. Two dozen toga clad maniacs in 50 years! They all fought their way to the throne and they all died on it! (You think George R. R. Martin thought that shit up himself?) In case you’re wondering, the number of Emperors who peacefully lived to a ripe old age was approximately zero.
Diocletian took a good look at that shitstorm of death and said “Sure, I’ll give it at try”. Then he spent 14 years fighting to prop up his weakened empire and fending off countless assassination attempts. After a decade and a half of killing usurpers to the throne and flattening external threats to the Empire he didn’t chill. He spent another 7 trying to re-invent the Empire to last the ages. (He bought a few centuries until Rome finally flushed itself. An accomplishment which is impressive.)
Did I mention he was hard core? For example, he answered to Dominus et Deus which translates to “Lord and God”. He fuckin’ meant it!
As a Roman Emperor he had tenure for life and the ability to kill anyone anytime for any reason…. which he did whenever was necessary. Which was often. Now think about Ginsberg who’s fossilized in the Supreme court or Hillary bitching on TV. Diocletian hadn’t just tasted power, he freebased the shit straight into his ego.
Diocletian wasn’t a nice guy. He was (apparently) unkillable and a terrifying emperor. Yet he had balls of titanium because he had power like the Tolkien’s Ring Of Sauron and let it go. Frodo was a pussy by comparison.
Are you that tough? Could you let ultimate power go? It must have been even harder for Diocletian because he’d earned every bit of juice he had and everyone expected him to rule forever.
I’m out. You losers can fight over the fate of the world, I’ve got cabbage to grow.
Diocletian retired. Two dozen predecessors had been knifed, stabbed, poisoned, and variously maimed. Diocletian put all that aside and designed an elaborate succession plan called the ‘tetrarchy’, or “rule of four”. Then, doing something utterly inconceivable, he became a retired Roman Emperor.
After his retirement, everything went to shit. His carefully picked successors immediately restarted the Game of Thrones East Versus West Version, the Home Game. His plan sounded good but it couldn’t overcome the self destructive greed for power that is inherent in man. His people begged him to return and kill the shit out of various factions. “Please sir, come straighten the mess out and buy Rome more years of peace.” Such temptation!
He didn’t do it.
Here’s the money quote (taken straight from Wikipedia):
At Carnuntum people begged Diocletian to return to the throne, to resolve the conflicts that had arisen through Constantine’s rise to power and Maxentius’ usurpation. Diocletian’s reply: “If you could show the cabbage that I planted with my own hands to your emperor, he definitely wouldn’t dare suggest that I replace the peace and happiness of this place with the storms of a never-satisfied greed.”
Translation:
“I’m out! I’m growing cabbages and it’s better than your bullshit endless wars. I did my best but now it’s time to put on your big boy pants and solve your own problems.”
Diocletian still had his own rough fate. He had done epic things (and brutal ones) trying to preserve Rome but the Empire seemed intent on sticking its dick in the light socket. He had to watch it. He knew throwing himself on the fire wouldn’t stop fate but I’m sure he would have preferred watching a peaceful nation prosper from a comfy seat in his gardens. His wasn’t a tragedy but it wasn’t a “happy ever after” moment; given Rome’s continuing mess he probably had the best outcome a man could get.
Kinda puts whining about Trump picking a Supreme Court Justice in perspective doesn’t it?
Out Fucking Standing essay!
Thank you!
Interesting discussion of the letting-go of power. Sort of related: I often wonder why celebrities who become terribly rich don’t just get out of the game after a decent career, buy an island, and live in peace and luxury. Madonna comes to mind. And Obama. Also, my mother’s grandfather was named Diocletian–he went by “Clete.” Because, Appalachia. As far as I know he was a genial and contented farmer who was happy to surrender power to his wife.
Diocletian the Appalachian? Sounds like a Ray Stevens song. I assume someone had high hopes for their kid. Either that or had no clue and just thought it sounded cool. Also I’ll take a dozen Doicletians nicknamed Clete over a Laquisahn’a who insists you spell Laquisahn’a.
Perspective is in short supply around these parts lately.
The newpaper reports much ado about nothing. At least it has comics and a word jumble.
Yesterday I filled out an ACLU survey; answered almost every loaded question (Do you think Trump The Terrible kicks puppies before or after his breakfast of broiled kittens?) with “Not concerned at all”.
“dick in the light socket”, heh. You sir, turn a good phrase. Good readin’ over breakfast coffee.
“dick in the light socket”… I like to keep it classy on my blog.
This too shall pass*
Based on the last post I had expected you to refer to Cincinnatus as an example for this topic, but, on reflection, Diocletian is a more apt comparison. Cincinnatus at least had the satisfaction of completing the job(s) he set out to do, while Diocletian fought a losing battle against the decline of the empire. I enjoyed this pair of posts!
*Much like a kidney stone.
Glad you liked the posts. I was worried that 1700 year old history was a bit obscure but I wrote it anyway ’cause that’s how I blog. Now I’ve got to read up on Cincinnatus.
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