“It was the wont of the immortal gods sometimes to grant prosperity and long impunity to men whose crimes they were minded to punish in order that a complete reverse of fortune might make them suffer more bitterly.”
July 12, 100 BC – March 15, 44 BC
Roman
Military General, Statesman, Dictator of the Roman Republic, Author
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Quote
“It was the wont of the immortal gods sometimes to grant prosperity and long impunity to men whose crimes they were minded to punish in order that a complete reverse of fortune might make them suffer more bitterly.”
Explanation
This quote reflects a classical view of divine justice in which the gods allow wrongdoers to prosper temporarily, not out of mercy, but to heighten the severity of their eventual downfall. Julius Caesar suggests that extended success and impunity may not be blessings, but rather the prelude to a more devastating punishment, orchestrated to ensure that the fall from grace is all the more agonizing. This belief ties closely to the Roman idea of hubris followed by nemesis—that excessive pride and wrongdoing inevitably invite ruin.
In Caesar’s time, such a perspective would resonate powerfully. The Roman elite often looked to the will of the gods to explain shifts in power, misfortune, or political upheaval. By framing the arc of a criminal’s success as part of a divine plan for eventual justice, Caesar underscores the moral order he believed governed the universe—even when it seemed delayed. It also served as a warning: do not mistake long-standing success for divine approval, as it may be the calm before the storm.
Today, this quote echoes in the rise and fall of public figures, whose careers sometimes end in dramatic disgrace after periods of unchecked power or unethical behavior. It speaks to a timeless idea—that true justice may be delayed but not denied, and that downfall is most painful when it follows a high ascent. Caesar’s insight challenges us to question the moral cost of prolonged success, especially when it is built on wrongdoing.
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