Damocles

You know, it's hard to go a day without seeing the moon if you set foot outside.

And the thought of having sort of people up there looking down on you, I, I don't know if human beings are gonna fare very well with that kind of Sword of Damocles seeming to hang over them.

I recently read The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein.

I taught that book at, at UATX for a couple seminar sessions, and I came away from that feeling, you know, even more strongly that, gosh, you know, it's, it's-- even on planet Earth, like, if we could see China every day, like, looming over us, and they could see us, like, looming over us in real life, not just on the internet, I think that would be, like, a very destabilizing and, and troubling experience.

ago there lived in rome a man whose name was julius caesar he was the greatest of all the romans why was he so great he was a brave warrior and had conquered many countries for rome he was wise in planning and in doing he knew how to make men both love and fear him at last he made himself the ruler of rome some said that he wished to become its king but the romans at the time did not believe in kings once when caesar was passing through a little country village all the men women and children of the place came out to see him there were not more than fifty of them altogether and they were led by their mayor who told each one what to do these simple people stood by the roadside and watched caesar pass the mayor looked very proud and happy for was he not the ruler of this village he felt that he was almost as great a man as caesar himself some of the fine officers who were with caesar laughed they said see how that fellow struts at the head of his little flock laugh as you will said caesar he has reason to be proud i would rather be the head man of a village than the second man in rome at another time caesar was crossing a narrow sea in a boat before he was half-way to the farther shore a storm overtook him the wind blew hard the waves dashed high the lightning flashed the thunder rolled it seemed every minute as though the boat would sink the captain was in great fright he had crossed the sea many times but never in such a storm as this he trembled with fear he could not guide the boat he fell down upon his knees he moaned all is lost all is lost but caesar was not afraid he bade the man get up and take his oars again why should you be afraid he said the boat will not be lost for you have caesar on board End of section 29 Recording by John of Washington, D.C.

50 famous stories retold by james baldwin section 30 the sword of damocles the sword of damocles there once was a king whose name was dionysus he was so unjust and cruel that he won for himself the name of tyrant he knew that almost everybody hated him and so he was always in dread lest someone should take his life but he was very rich and he lived in a fine palace where there were many beautiful and costly things and he was waited upon by a host of servants who were always ready to do his bidding one day a friend of his whose name was damocles said to him how happy you must be you have here everything that any man could wish perhaps you would like to change places with me said the tyrant no not that o king said damocles but i think that if i could only have your riches and your pleasures for one day i should not want any greater happiness very well said the tyrant you shall have them and so the next day damocles was led into the palace and all the servants were bidden to treat him as their master he sat down at a table in the banquet hall and rich foods were placed before him nothing was wanting that could give him pleasure there were costly wines and beautiful flowers and rare perfumes and delightful music he rested himself among soft cushions and felt that he was the happiest man in all the world then he chanced to raise his eyes towards the ceiling what was it that was dangling above him with its point almost touching his head it was a sharp sword and it was hung by only a single horsehair what if the hair should break there was danger every moment that it would do so The smile faded from the lips of Damocles.

His face became ashly pale.

His hands trembled.

He cared not where.

What is the matter? said the tyrant.

That sword, that sword, cried Damocles.

He was so badly frightened that he dared not move.