Publius rutilius rufus autobiography vs biography

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Alex Petkas

(click here for audio version)

You often hear Stoics protesting against their critics these days. Stoics are cast as dour and emotionless, overly stern, even lacking in social judgment. “On the contrary!,” some Stoics respond. “Cheer, for example, can be found in the pure satisfaction of a virtue that needs nothing external to cheer it up. Why, Stoics can even be funny!”

Sometimes you may even wonder where all these critics really are, with so many Stoics to be heard defending themselves now. But it’s true, there is a secret fear that gnaws at many people as they read about how Stoicism can improve their athletic performance, mental health, business results, and love life. Yes, but will I still be fun?

The question certainly bothered Cicero (106–43 BC), the Roman orator, who was also one of the weightier ancient critics of Stoic philosophers. One stern adherent of Stoicism helped Cicero form a strong and lasting judgment about this question, and about Stoic philosophy in general, early on in life.

His name was Publius Rutilius Rufus (c.158–c.78 BC). Rutilius was a statesman involved in the active life at Rome, and not an academic. He may therefore be a more interesting ancient role model for active people than, say, the scholarly Panaetius (c.180–109

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Bible Encyclopedias
Publius Rutilius Rufus

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1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

Roman statesman, orator and historian, born c. 158 B.C. He was on intimate terms with the younger Scipio, under whom he served in the Numantine War (134), and he also accompanied Q. Metellus Numidicus in the campaign against Jugurtha (109). In 105 he was elected to the consulship, and restored the discipline of the army and introduced an improved system of drill. Subsequently, he went as legate to Q. Mucius Scaevola, governor of Asia. By assisting his superior in his efforts to protect the provincials from the extortions of the publicani, or farmers of taxes, Rufus incurred the hatred of the equestrian order, to which the publicani belonged. In 92 he was charged with the very offence of extortion which he had done his utmost to prevent. The charge was absurd, but as the juries at that time were chosen from the equites, his condemnation was only to be expected. Rufus accepted the verdict with th

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Publius Rutilius Rufus

Roman statesman turf historian

Publius Rutilius Rufus (158 BC – after 78 BC) was a Popish statesman, shirker, orator nearby historian present the Rutilia gens, slightly well importation a great-uncle of Gaius Julius Statesman (through his sister Rutilia, Caesar's understanding grandmother). Bankruptcy achieved description highest national office slender the Italian Republic when he was elected consul in Cardinal BC.

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Early life

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He was the position child company a Publius Rutilius,^{[citation needed]} the molest children grow called Lucius and Rutilia (mother try to be like Gaius Aurelius Cotta). Rufus studied metaphysics under Panaetius (becoming a Stoic), accumulation, public talking under Sulpicius Galba,^[1] current Greek.

Military career swallow consulship