Previously, I began a series of articles drawing upon my studies in Rome. It reflects on the values Rome’s ancient civilization held dear, the eternal legacy of its people, and how, or if, America can achieve that same immortality. Each piece introduces one of four classical virtues: pietas (piety and duty), constantia (perseverance), prudentia (wisdom and personal discretion), and disciplina (discipline). I first explored our duty to American society and spirit through reborn pietas. Now, I am shifting to constantia, the attitude of perseverance in the face of adversity; the willingness to stand firm against the enemy at the gates to protect one’s values and people, even at great personal cost.
Constantia: Action Follows Belief
Titus Livy, one of Rome’s most extensive historians, bears much responsibility for preserving his civilization’s early history, both mythological and factual. In Book V of his masterpiece, Ad Urbe Condita, Livy brings his readers to the beginning of the 4th century BC when Rome was merely a local power and little more than a walled city. Though Rome appeared to be on the rise, Livy tells of how the city nearly lost everything to an unseen threat. He recounts how Rome found itself at war with migrating Gauls who left the city on the brink of destruction. They ransacked homes, desecrated temples, and reduced the fate of the Romans to the last holdout on the sacred Capitoline Hill. It was only the dutiful general Camillus who, recalled from exile, saved the city.
Despite this, the Romans remained defeated in heart, with many prepared to give up everything and start new lives in a neighboring city away from the lingering Gauls. In an appeal to their dormant Roman spirit and humble beginnings, their savior Camillus gave a final exhortation:
“Our ancestors, shepherds and refugees, built a new City in a few years, when there was nothing in these parts but forests and swamps; are we shirking the labor of rebuilding what has been burnt?…Here are all the gods, who, if you remain, will be gracious to you.”
Livy, Ad Urbe Condita, Book V
Imagine a world without Camillus’ speech: the Roman people could have abandoned their ruined city, the sacred homeland for which they had fought and died, irreversibly stunting the development of Western civilization and forsaking its achievements. However, such cowardice would have betrayed the spirit of constantia embodied by Camillus and ingrained in Roman thought. Ultimately, even the greatest of threats could not overcome it.
Perseverance: A Weakening Cornerstone of the American Spirit
While the average American no longer needs the courage and perseverance to stand on the frontlines of war, the underlying themes of constantia are disappearing from all other facets of life. Why is this? Because modern society is increasingly organized toward our most prevalent psychological needs: comfort and acceptance. Problematically, institutions and influencers have learned to fill these gaps at a great moral cost.
The foremost realization of this is the rise of an instant gratification mindset. With technological progress comes the ability to satisfy our desires instantly. Fueled by morally void consumerism and shackled by the increasing integration of technology into our lives, the average American citizen is losing their autonomy. Furthermore, a younger generation far less exposed to challenges requiring constantia creates its own moral hazards. The flagrant result of this is the loss of grit, the rise of escapism, and the withering of motivation.
As we continue on this downward spiral, its effects become clear. One fatal example is the continued rise of drug usage and the decreasing age of exposure. When we can’t reconcile with reality, the easiest action is to alter or escape it entirely. Another is social media. At a certain point, these platforms become more real than reality and the drive for in-person interactions vanishes.
In light of these new challenges, the need for constantia remains. Thousands of years later, Livy’s record of Rome at a crossroads stands as a metaphor for our personal and societal challenges.
Camillus appealed to the history, tradition, and an ethereal and divine purpose for which the Roman people existed. When confronted with hardship and tempted into escapism, we ought to ask ourselves: Who is our Camillus and why must we not abandon our personal Rome? The responsibility of Camillus largely rests on one’s own consciousness: Ultimately, the only one who can tell you to persevere is you. As for our “why,” we must discover our enduring purpose. Whether it be religious or family commitment, or simply a certain outlook on the world, the key is to cherish something so deeply that even the most fervent temptation cannot be cause to abandon it. Perseverance cannot exist without purpose.
Rome stood for thousands of years as its people learned to defy impossible odds. America rose to prominence on those principles too. But good times, like those created by the constantia of those who came before us, classically lead to weaker people. Consequently, our only hope of staying resolute is to find our own constantia.
* The views expressed in this article solely represent the views of the author, not the views of the Chicago Thinker.