When conquering proconsuls returned to pagan Rome to celebrate their triumph, custom was to assign each of them a slave whose only function was to remind the conqueror that the greatest human glory passes quickly. This slave would crouch in the victorious warriors chariot, whispering as the conqueror rode along triumphantly 'Remember ... remember thou art mortal.
More Quotes from James Keller:
In Holman Hunts painting, 'The Light of the World, 'Christ is shown in a garden at midnight, holding a lantern in His left hand. With His right hand He is knocking on a heavily paneled door. When the painting was unveiled, a critic remarked to the painter, 'Mr. Hunt, the work is unfinished. There is no handle on the door.' 'That,' Hunt answered, 'is the door to the human heart. It can be opened only from the inside.'James Keller
A suburban local was stalled by a blizzard one winters night, and so deep was the snow that its passengers were unable to leave the car. Next morning the hundred and fifty-odd half-frozen commuters were startled to see a manned signal tower only a few hundred yards away. The signal-station attendant had seen the stalled train the night before, but when asked why hed done nothing about it, he answered, 'Its not in my territory.'
James Keller
There is an ancient tale about a king who wanted to pick the wisest man among his subjects to be his prime minister. When the search finally narrowed down to just three men, he decided to put them to the supreme test. Accordingly, he placed them together in a room in his palace, and on the room door he had installed a lock which was the last word in mechanical ingenuity. The candidates were informed that whoever was able to open the door first would be appointed to the post of honor. Setting themselves to the task, two of the men began to work out complicated mathematical formulas to discover the lock combination. The third man, however, just sat down in his chair, lost in thought. Finally, without bothering to put pen to paper, he got up, walked to the door, and turned the handle. The door opened. It had been unlocked all the time.
James Keller
In one of the decisive battles of World War I, disastrous reports poured into the headquarters of Marshal Foch, the commander of the Allied forces. The great general never lost heart. When things were at their worst, he drafted his famous order which is now in all textbooks of military strategy 'My center is giving way, my right is pushed back, my left is wavering. The situation is excellent. I shall attack'
James Keller
'I think well have a good potato crop this year,' a newspaper editor told his housekeeper one morning. 'No such thing,' asserted the housekeeper. 'I think the crop will be poor.' Ignoring her remark, the editor caused to be inserted in the evening paper his estimate of the crop situation. That night when he returned home he found the housekeeper waiting for him with a sheepish grin on her face and a copy of the paper in her hand. 'I was wrong,' she said apologetically. 'It says right here in the paper that the crop will be excellent this fall.'
James Keller
A gentleman walking along the street passed a vacant lot where some boys were playing baseball. He asked what the score was and was told,'Were behind eighteen to nothing.' 'Well,' said the gentleman, 'I must say you dont look very discouraged.' 'Discouraged' the boy said, puzzled, 'Were not discouraged. We havent come to bat yet'
James Keller
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Based on Topics: Custom & Convention Quotes, Slavery QuotesBased on Keywords: assign, crouch, pagan, proconsuls, triumphantly
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