The flame of liberty still lives in the burning embers of censorship.
‘Still in its embers living the strong fire.’
- Solon
We tend to think that here in 2026 censorship at its extreme is a phenomenon relegated to the past. Many of us are aware of that thing called communism which shut down people’s views and was responsible for the deaths of millions. Sadly, our addiction to “modernness” prevents us from truly seeing the devastation that can be caused by our fellow man, still.
The tendency to tyrannise is not antiquated at all. The only thing antiquated is our incapacity and unwillingness to give the past its due respect. Had we equipped ourselves with enough information gifted to us from our “antique” predecessors, we would have known what was coming.
Never before in history have humans had so much access to knowledge. How we use that knowledge is the thing that determines whether we thrive or fall. It is clear that we are falling. And we bear as much blame for that as those who inflict their wretched plans for pain and suffering upon us.
However, human nature en masse is weak, and it is that which those who pull the strings take advantage of.
One of my very favourite ancient characters is Solon, the Greek sage and lawmaker of sixth century BC. He was given the job of restoring order to Athens in the early part of the century. He established political, economic and social laws that saw aristocratic control lessen, more rights for the people, and a trading system that sought to benefit Athens above anyone else.
His focus was applying morals in politics. Now, that would be considered extremely short-sighted for us today as we watch the sinking of morality at a rapid pace. It was not only the people but the aristocracy and merchant class who supported Solon’s endeavours to restore Athens’ greatness. He was popular, not in a reverential sense, but because Athens was broken and battered from endless wars and conflict.
I say, why not have a go?! Clearly, so did the people of the time.
But one man laughed at such a move.
Anacharsis, the legendary Scythian - After a model by Pierre I Legros (1629–1714)
Anacharsis was a legendary Scythian figure referred to as the “wise barbarian,” (perhaps for us more relatable as the “noble savage.”) What little we know of him is from Herodotus who tells of Anacharsis’ great travels and admiration of Greek ways. This admiration eventually got him killed by the Scythian king, Saulius, who caught him undertaking a Greek ceremony designed to honour the Magna Mater - mother of the gods.
On one of his trips to Athens he befriended Solon. When watching the Athenian compile his laws and speak in such honourable terms of those who were in positions of upholding them, Anacharsis declared his exasperation:
‘He laughed at him [Solon] for imagining the dishonesty and covetousness of his countrymen could be restrained by written laws, which were like spiders’ webs, and would catch, it is true, the weak and poor, but easily be broken by the mighty and rich.’
Solon replied:
‘Men keep their promises when neither side can get anything by the breaking of them; and he would so fit his laws to the citizens, that all should understand it was more eligible to be just than to break the laws.’
Personally, I don’t blame either of them for their point of view. I truly wish that our elected representatives possessed more morality. But I also agree with the Scythian that it is a pipe dream to wish such a thing.
So we are left with reality. And the reality of Anacharsis was that which he witnessed when attending the Athenian Assembly:
‘…expressing his wonder at the fact that in Greece wise men spoke and fools decided.’
It behoves us as citizens to bear in mind the position of those we send to do our bidding.
To return to the quote I began with, we must maintain a rage for liberty and freedom, for while it is burning quickly we need to hold on to the strength that still exists within the embers.