Ancient and modern
Thucydides on McGuinness
When Gerry Adams rose to announce at his funeral that Martin McGuinness was no terrorist but a ‘freedom fighter’, the…
Theresa May at the Rubicon
Last week many commentators drew on the Ides (15th) of March, the anniversary of Julius Caesar’s death in 44 BC, to……
How to make the rich love tax
Now that Philip Hammond is promising yet more tax hikes, he might consider how Athens managed it. During the whole…
Enemies of the people
Hardly a week goes by without someone applauding Thomas Carlyle’s objection to democracy: ‘I do not believe in the collective…
Enemies of the people
Hardly a week goes by without someone applauding Thomas Carlyle’s objection to democracy: ‘I do not believe in the collective…
No mumbling allowed
In the audience-free world of TV, where ‘acting’ and visuals have become of far greater importance than the actual words,…
No mumbling allowed
In the audience-free world of TV, where ‘acting’ and visuals have become of far greater importance than the actual words,…
All the President’s yes-men
Donald Trump takes it as read that any criticism of his words or actions is an assault on the truth.…
All the President’s yes-men
Donald Trump takes it as read that any criticism of his words or actions is an assault on the truth.…
From Tacitus to Justin Welby
Many are still questioning the enthusiasm with which newspapers have implicated Archbishop Justin Welby, as a young man, in the…
From Tacitus to Justin Welby
Many are still questioning the enthusiasm with which newspapers have implicated Archbishop Justin Welby, as a young man, in the…
Socrates on expertise
The governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, raises his growth forecasts and suddenly everyone believes the ‘expert’. So…
Socrates on expertise
The governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, raises his growth forecasts and suddenly everyone believes the ‘expert’. So…
Socrates on expertise
The governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, raises his growth forecasts and suddenly everyone believes the ‘expert’. So…
Nero’s tips for Trump
A Washington Post interview with ‘senior officials’ in the Trump White House reveals that ‘Trump… feels demoralised that the public’s…
Nero’s tips for Trump
A Washington Post interview with ‘senior officials’ in the Trump White House reveals that ‘Trump… feels demoralised that the public’s…
Beyond words
In his inaugural speech last week, the new President Trump said, among much else, the ‘American carnage’ of poverty, ignorance…
Beyond words
In his inaugural speech last week, the new President Trump said, among much else, the ‘American carnage’ of poverty, ignorance…
An emperor’s inauguration
Given that Donald Trump is not the most popular president the USA has ever seen, even among his own party,…
An emperor’s inauguration
Given that Donald Trump is not the most popular president the USA has ever seen, even among his own party,…
From Socrates to Osborne
Ex-chancellor George Osborne is planning a book to be titled The Age of Unreason. He says that ‘it will be…
From Socrates to Osborne
Ex-chancellor George Osborne is planning a book to be titled The Age of Unreason. He says that ‘it will be…
Ovid’s post-truths
We are told we live in a ‘post-truth’ world. This appears to mean that everyone believes everything they are told…
Ovid’s post-truths
We are told we live in a ‘post-truth’ world. This appears to mean that everyone believes everything they are told…
Kudos
What is a ‘kudo’? According to the Taxpayers’ Alliance, it is a mark of honour, many of which should be…
