Rome's Last Citizen

1. What’s Rome’s Last Citizen by Rob Goodman about?

• Biography of Cato the Younger: The book is a detailed biography of Marcus Porcius Cato the Younger, a Roman senator, Stoic philosopher, and fierce opponent of Julius Caesar.
• Political and historical context: It situates Cato’s life within the turbulent final century of the Roman Republic, marked by civil wars, corruption, and the rise of autocratic leaders.
• Themes of liberty and virtue: The narrative explores Cato’s unwavering commitment to republican ideals, his resistance to tyranny, and how his story became a symbol of civic virtue.
• Enduring legacy: The book traces how Cato’s life and death influenced later political thought, literature, and revolutions, making him an icon of principled resistance.

2. Why should I read Rome’s Last Citizen by Rob Goodman?

• Insight into Roman history: The book offers a vivid, accessible account of the late Roman Republic’s political turmoil through the lens of one of its most principled figures.
• Exploration of Stoicism in action: Readers gain a deep understanding of Stoic philosophy as lived by Cato, adding philosophical depth to the historical narrative.
• Relevance to modern politics: The book draws connections between Cato’s legacy and contemporary ideas of liberty, republicanism, and political virtue.
• Engaging storytelling: Rob Goodman combines rigorous scholarship with compelling storytelling, making complex history and philosophy approachable.

3. Who was Marcus Porcius Cato the Younger, as presented in Rome’s Last Citizen by Rob Goodman?

• Stoic senator and soldier: Cato was a Roman aristocrat, soldier, and senator known for his austere lifestyle and fierce opposition to Julius Caesar.
• Symbol of republican virtue: He represented the optimates, defending Rome’s traditional constitution and values against populist leaders and corruption.
• Unyielding political figure: Cato’s refusal to compromise made him both admired and politically isolated, contributing to the Republic’s fall.
• Political martyr: His suicide rather than submission to Caesar cemented his legacy as a symbol of liberty and resistance to tyranny.

4. How does Rome’s Last Citizen by Rob Goodman describe the political environment of the late Roman Republic?

• Turbulent and corrupt: The Republic was powerful but plagued by bribery, scandals, and social inequality, with political institutions in decline.
• Factionalism and violence: The populares and optimates factions vied for power, often resorting to violence, assassinations, and civil war.
• Rise of military strongmen: Generals like Marius, Sulla, Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar commanded personal armies, undermining republican governance.
• Crisis of governance: The Senate became increasingly ineffective, with laws and offices manipulated or ignored, leading to constitutional breakdown.

5. What role did Stoicism play in Cato’s life according to Rome’s Last Citizen by Rob Goodman?

• Guiding philosophy: Stoicism was central to Cato’s worldview, teaching him to value virtue above all and endure hardship with dignity.
• Practical application: Cato used Stoicism as a practical guide for political and personal discipline, not just as an academic pursuit.
• Countercultural stance: His Stoic beliefs led him to reject societal conventions he saw as corrupt, such as bribery and moral laxity.
• Public example: Cato’s embodiment of Stoic ideals made him a model of integrity, though he was sometimes accused of hypocrisy.

6. How did Cato the Younger oppose Julius Caesar and the triumvirate, as detailed in Rome’s Last Citizen by Rob Goodman?

• Political obstruction: Cato used filibustering and legal tactics to block Caesar’s and the triumvirs’ agendas, including land reforms and military commands.
• Moral exemplar: He sought to rally the optimates and the public by embodying republican virtues, even as his influence waned.
• Public protest: Cato’s symbolic acts, such as refusing to swear oaths or accept bribes, were statements of resistance.
• Final resistance: He remained a vocal opponent until the civil war, urging others to resist Caesar’s rise to autocracy.

7. What were Cato’s key political actions and stances highlighted in Rome’s Last Citizen by Rob Goodman?

• Opposition to populism: Cato consistently opposed populist reforms like land redistribution and debt cancellation, seeing them as threats to stability.
• Resistance to powerful generals: He distrusted both Pompey and Caesar, opposing their ambitions and reforms.
• Use of obstruction tactics: Cato pioneered filibustering and other forms of political obstruction to block legislation he opposed.
• Moral rigor in office: As quaestor and tribune, he fought corruption and expanded the grain dole while maintaining his austere principles.

8. How does Rome’s Last Citizen by Rob Goodman portray Cato’s effectiveness as a politician?

• Admired but limited: Cato was respected for his integrity and oratory but often politically ineffective and outnumbered.
• Performance over power: His public acts and speeches were more symbolic than practical, sometimes alienating potential allies.
• Coalition challenges: His refusal to compromise made it difficult to build lasting coalitions with figures like Cicero and Pompey.
• Legacy beyond politics: Despite limited political success, his steadfastness left a powerful legacy that outlasted his defeats.

9. How did Cato’s personal life and character influence his political career in Rome’s Last Citizen by Rob Goodman?

• Temper and austerity: Cato’s volcanic temper and extreme frugality inspired both admiration and ridicule.
• Complex relationships: His marital history, including a controversial arrangement involving his wife Marcia, reflected tensions between personal and political life.
• Philosophical commitment: His Stoic beliefs shaped his public persona and decisions, emphasizing virtue even at personal cost.
• Public example over writing: Cato promoted himself through conduct rather than written works, leaving little direct record.

10. What was the significance of Cato’s suicide in Rome’s Last Citizen by Rob Goodman?

• Ultimate act of defiance: Cato’s suicide at Utica symbolized his refusal to live under Caesar’s rule, embodying his Stoic belief in freedom and virtue.
• Political statement: His death was as much a political act as a personal one, signaling resistance to tyranny.
• Martyrdom and myth: Cato’s suicide was mythologized by contemporaries and later generations as the ultimate sacrifice for liberty.
• Inspiration for future movements: His death inspired later political movements, literature, and revolutions as a symbol of principled resistance.

11. What impact did Cato have on later political thought and culture, according to Rome’s Last Citizen by Rob Goodman?

• Symbol of liberty: Cato became a symbol of republican virtue and liberty, inspiring Enlightenment thinkers and revolutionaries.
• Influence on American founders: His example was invoked during the American Revolution by figures like George Washington.
• Literary legacy: Cato’s story was retold in works like Addison’s Cato: A Tragedy, Lucan’s Pharsalia, and Dante’s Divine Comedy.
• Philosophical debates: His Stoicism influenced later debates on virtue, suicide, and resistance to tyranny.

12. What are the key takeaways and best quotes from Rome’s Last Citizen by Rob Goodman, and what do they mean?

• The cost of political purity: Cato’s refusal to compromise shows the dangers and costs of inflexible idealism in politics.
• Fragility of republics: The book highlights how internal divisions and corruption can erode democratic institutions and lead to authoritarianism.
• Enduring value of virtue: Despite defeat, Cato’s life inspired later generations, emphasizing the importance of integrity and resistance to tyranny.
• Notable quotes: “Cato made a career out of purity, out of his refusal to give an inch in the face of pressure to compromise and deal.” “The victorious cause was dear to the gods; the lost cause, to Cato.” These capture his uncompromising nature and his role as a champion of lost republican ideals.