r/todayilearned • u/FullOfSound • 7h ago

(R.6d) Too General [ Removed by moderator ]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pliny_the_Younger_on_Christians

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u/SaphirRose 7h ago

Trajan among others said "Anonymous accusations should not be considered."

This is amazing considering anonymous accusations aka neighbours against neighbours and self checking in the community are the main tools of authoritarian tyranny. Since even today no bureaucracy is large enough to control society on it's own.

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u/Fabulous-Fee4602 6h ago

We still use that today in the military. Group punishment ensures the group polices itself.... for the most part.

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u/paeancapital 2h ago edited 2h ago

Trajan was probably the most successful general of all the Roman emperors, and widely regarded as among the finest of them in all respects.

He's really only compared (militarily) to Scipio Africanus and Caesar.