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1. A literal fact at the time. The Romans were the first great road builders, and every road they built had one end in Rome.
2. Wherever you are, behave like the local people. Don't stick out by insisting on doing things your way.
3. ? (Do you mean expansive or expensive? If it's the latter, the same could probably be said of any cosmopolitan tourist attraction.)
4. In ancient times, this was true because Rome ruled most of the Mediterranean world and some of Europe north of there. Later it just may mean--well, what prominent resident of Rome was here recently?
5. Shakespeare put these words into the mouth of Marc Antony as he viewed the body of Brutus. Antony goes on to say that the other members of the assassination plot acted out of envy of Caesar, but Brutus took part because he genuinely wanted to restore Roman democracy. Although Antony may not have said these exact words, the play is pretty true to Plutarch's acount of things.
6. From Poe's "To Helen," although some editions of the poem say "the BEAUTY that was Greece." The disntinction between the two nouns alludes to the fact that Greece gave the world art, literature, archtecture, and philosophy, whereas Rome RULED it. In context, Poe is saying that Helen's beauty has the effect of drawing him home to such magnificent things.
7. Related to #4. At one time Rome's decision was law, and today, for most members of the world's most numerous faith, it still is.
8. St. Paul said this when he was arrested for preaching and whipped and thrown into jail like any common felon. As a Roman citizen, he had certain rights that ordinary Roman SUBJECTS did't have, and when he informed his captors of his status, they (figuratively, anyway) stepped back and said, "Uh oh."
9. No major undertaking is accomplished quickly.
10. Julius Caesar said this--again, a literal fact. When he rose to power, Rome was a rather ordinary-looking city. built of bricks; and when he died, it was a beautiful one, constructed mostly of marble.
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