- spend two hours in the morning primping and preening in front of a mirror
- walk purposefully from my apartment to public transport without even glancing sideways
- scowl at other Romans who checked my progress
- ignore every historic site or sight.
- buy and drink an espresso in one smooth movement while standing on the pavement and then bugger off immediately
- glance at my reflection in shop windows at every opportunity while walking at a brisk pace
- smoke a cigarette, then another cigarette, then another one until I reach my destination
On reflection, I think it best to not do as the Romans do when in Rome. I've paid a lot of money to get here, so I intend to follow this newly coined and essentially boring saying: "when in Rome, do as the tourists do".
I know it's not as catchy as the original, but it's much sounder advice.
6 comments:
Could not resist the temptation to look this up:
The Saying: WHEN IN ROME, DO AS THE ROMANS DO.
Who Said It: St. Ambrose
When: 387 A.D.
The Story behind It: When St. Augustine arrived in Milan, he observed that the Church did not fast on Saturday as did the Church at Rome. He consulted St. Ambrose, bishop of Milan, who replied: "When I am at Rome, I fast on a Saturday; when I am at Milan, I do not. Follow the custom of the Church where you are." The comment was changed to "When they are at Rome, they do there as they see done" by Robert Burton in his Anatomy of Melancholy. Eventually it became "When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
WHEN IN ROME, DO AS THE ROMANS DO - "Don't set your own rules when you are someone's guest. The proverb has been traced back to the 1530 'Commonplace Book' and it is first cited in the United States in 'Voyages of Radisson' (1885). The proverb is often attributed to Saint Ambrose (c.340-397), whose advice to Saint Augustine read: Si fueris Romae, Romano vivito more; si fueris alibi, vivito sicut ibi ('When you are in Rome live in the Roman style; when you are elsewhere live as they live elsewhere') English diviine Jeremy Taylor (1613-67) also used the proverb." From "Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996).
Nerd much?
As interesting as all of that historical information was, how could you be bothered to look it all up? It is holidays, go to the beach or something.
some of us are naturally curious whether at work or on holidays - how do we know the last comment was not sent from the beach??
We don't know of course. But who goes to the beach, so they can sit on the computer and look up historical facts? That is appart from a nerd. The brain needs a break from thinking sometimes. As i am sure you can tell, my brain has been on a break for a while now.
And like i said, curious or not, like you could be bothered.
And sorry if some people are not on holidays, but if that is the case, shouldn't you have work to do!
Thanks for the info Kar Firkin. An interesting read, particularly appropriate when on vacation. Since my post, I have discovered that contrary to my initial and rather narrow perceptions, the Romans do practically everything under the sun, so I can in fact do as the Romans do and please myself at the same time. For example, I am currently in an internet facility at one of eight workstations. (Along with at least four others who appear to be Romans.) Tomorrow I shall visit the Sistine Chapel... as will many Romans.
It means "Do not not break the chains of conformity" Do as the Romans do conform to cultural societal constraint.
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