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The Art of Living

The Importance of the Purple

Massimo Pigliucci looks for threads of integrity in a morally compromised world.

In the tumultuous political landscape of ancient Rome, few stories better illustrate the ideal of moral courage than that of Helvidius Priscus, a Roman senator who faced Emperor Vespasian with remarkable fortitude.

During Vespasian’s reign (69-79 CE), Priscus found himself in a direct confrontation with imperial power. When ordered not to attend a Senate meeting in order not to potentially embarrass Vespasian with a public confrontation, Priscus responded with characteristic clarity: “You have the power to disqualify me as a senator, but as long as I am one, I’m obliged to attend meetings.” The Emperor, seemingly willing to compromise, permitted his attendance, but demanded his silence. Priscus, however, understood that his duty transcended mere physical presence: “Don’t ask me for my opinion and I’ll keep quiet.

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