"The civil wars were ended after twenty years, foreign wars suppressed, peace restored, the frenzy of arms lulled to rest; validity was restored to the laws, authority to the courts, and dignity to the Senate. . . The old traditional form of the republic was restored."
Paterculus observes how delicately Rome survived the civil wars of the Republic Era. During those conflicts, power shifted among the government and the enforcement of the law became tenuous because most of everyone's time, energy, and money was devoted to the wars. In his assessment, Paterculus views the successful resolution of these wars as a return to the old, rather than the accomplishment of change.
"That he was no despiser of money is demonstrated by his governorship of Syria: he entered the rich province of a poor man, but left it a rich man and the province poor."
Speaking of Varus, the general and politician, Paterculus subtly reveals a criticism. He notes how regions under Varus' control never prosper, but the man always prospers personally. He takes advantage of his military authority to gain more wealth for himself, demonstrating a lack of concern for his subjects.
"It is usually the case that heaven perverts the judgement of the man whose fortune it means to reverse, and brings it to pass -- and this is the wretched part of it -- that that which happens by chance seems to be deserved, and accident passes over into culpability."
In this quotation, Paterculus observes the trend of the retribution of fate. He notices how hindsight reveals patterns which seem consistent and deliberate. People receive what they deserve. But this same hindsight lies in direct contrast to the intents of these same people in the moment. To Paterculus this means that fate has blinded the fool to his own folly, but history reveals the connection clearly.
"When Rome was freed of the fear of Carthage, and her rival in empire was out of her way, the path to virtue was abandoned for that of corruption, not gradually, but in headlong course. The older discipline was discarded to give place to the new. The state passed from vigilance to slumber, from the pursuit of arms to the pursuit of pleasure, from activity to idleness."
The change between time of war and time of peace is dramatic and almost systematic in Rome. The people prospered during peace, devoting themselves to the pursuit of art and excellence in all variety creativity. During war, however, these pursuits were abandoned for efficiency and discipline, upon which their survival rested.
