2007

Theodor Mommsen's A History of Rome describes Roman life as follows:

Life in the case of Roman was spent under conditions of austere restraint, and, the nobler he was, the less he was a free man. All-powerful custom restricted him to a narrow range of thought and action; and to have led a serious and strict or, to use the characteristic Latin expressions, a grave and severe life, was his glory.

"Austere restraint" was required of a noble man in Rome. Truly the custom put the restraint on him and led him to live a "grave and severe life". With deeper thought, I do not entirely object to a grave and severe life (the term is generally defined in this statement, whereas, I have to say, it can be strictly defined if the audience requires me to do so).

In The Name of The Rose, the venerable Jorge says, without fear people will lose faith to God (idea). Hence, he forbides the reading of Aristotle's Comedy (which is in fact lost) by applying poison to the pages.

You may want to ask why it is necessary to exert fear on people and why we are afraid to lose faith to God and what the benefits are living a grave and severe life and abstaining from worldly pleasures. The answer is not easy, but not impossible. On the whole, a grave and severe life is much satisfying than that full of worldly pleasures and fully liberal. I do not forsee a trappist life totally detaching from worldly pleasures, but instead would like to see one lead a life in the balance in the sense that the enjoyment of worldly pleasures comes the understanding of the higher satisfaction of abstaining them (or minimising them). A nobleman is noble only when his mindset dictates what he chooses to do in a noble manner. Some of us can do it at ease, perhaps physically more superior with his brain, as neuroscientist likes to promote - well probably correctly. A lot or most of us have to go through a painful process, but I admit, with my own experience, that through it I see the truth of a simpler, graver and more severe life.