Source edition
Plutarch. Moralia, Vol. IV. Babbitt, Frank Cole, editor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1936 (printing).
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a rhetorical and philosophical treatise exploring whether the rise and hegemony of the Roman Empire were achieved through human "Virtue" (Virtus) or the favor of "Fortune" (Fortuna). The author argues that while both played a role, Fortune has consistently been the primary guardian of Rome, as evidenced by the numerous temples the Romans historically dedicated to her. Through a series of historical anecdotes, the text illustrates how key leaders like Julius Caesar and Augustus, as well as early kings such as Romulus, Numa, and Servius Tullius, owed their survival and success to miraculous luck rather than sheer virtue. Crucial military crises, such as the Gallic siege of the Capitol being thwarted by the cackling of sacred geese, and the timely death of Alexander the Great, are presented as proof of Fortune's active intervention. Ultimately, the work depicts Rome's enduring supremacy as the result of a great, divine Fortune that has consistently guided and protected the state from its very inception.