And if a man consider the original of this great ecclesiastical dominion, he will easily perceive, that the Papacy, is no other than the ghost of the deceased Roman Empire, sitting crowned upon the grave thereof: for so did the Papacy start up on a sudden out of the ruins of that heathen power.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The Papacy is portrayed as a continuation of the fallen Roman Empire, rising from its ruins like a ghost.
- In plain terms
- The Pope's authority is likened to the remnants of an old empire.
- What can you take from it?
- Recognize how institutions may inherit legacy power structures.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What other institutions claim similar legacies?
- How does this view affect modern perception?
Another view
Interpretations of history can be biased.
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