Author: Quintus Curtius

Using Your Ingenuity To Accomplish Your Goals

Quintus Curtius Literature, Thought , ,

Those who are resourceful will find ways of carrying out their purposes.  They will not be deterred by momentary setbacks or obstacles.  The lazy man or the dullard will take refuge behind the natural obstructions that life places in his path and, using such problems as excuses to avoid work, take comfort in his failures.  In his mind, failure was inevitable.  This way of thinking can be found in many people; they never advance far in life because they are not willing to hunt for creative solutions to problems.  Obstacles must be bypassed, smashed through, vaulted over, or avoided altogether.

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Wednesday Film Roundup (6/21/2017)

Quintus Curtius Film , ,

Fury of a Patient Man (Tarde para la ira) (2016)

Director:   Raúl Arévalo

This is a very well done Spanish noir revenge thriller that combines realism and narrative power.  The plot:  José is a taciturn guy who likes to hang out at a drab neighborhood bar.  He spends enough time there to catch the eye of the equally drab waitress.

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Julius Caesar’s Speech To The Senate In “The Conspiracy Of Catiline” (Podcast)

Quintus Curtius Podcast , , ,

This podcast is a reading and commentary on the speech of Julius Caesar found in Sallust’s “Conspiracy of Catiline.” Caesar’s address to the senate made important points about the value of precedent, leniency, and how abuses of power can follow from seemingly good intentions.

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The Plague Of Justinian

Quintus Curtius History , ,

During the reign of the eastern Roman emperor Justinian, the Mediterranean world was hit by a pandemic whose virulence was exceeded only by the outbreak of the Black Plague in western Europe many centuries later.  The pandemic–commonly known today as the Plague of Justinian–only lasted from A.D. 541 to 542, but there were residual aftershocks of the disease that occurred periodically for two centuries thereafter.  It is important to history not only for its extremely high death toll, but also for the political and economic changes that followed in its wake.

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The Search For The Real Anwar Sadat

Quintus Curtius Biography, History , ,

Immediately after he was assassinated in 1981, Egyptian president Anwar Sadat was canonized by the Western media.  He was portrayed as a brave crusader for peace who had taken bold steps to overcome his people’s alleged resistance to resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict.  By single-handedly flying to the Israeli Knesset and embracing Menachem Begin, he had broken down years of psychological barriers and secured his place in history as a statesman of unblemished stature.  Sadat, we have been told, was a man “ahead of his time” whose bold vision was overcome by the fanaticism of the “extremists” who cut him down in his prime.

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Mentorships And Career Choices (Podcast)

Quintus Curtius Podcast , ,

In this podcast we deal with questions from two reader emails.  The first question asks about mentorships.  The second question deals with the concerns one guy is having about his career path.

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Cover Art For My Books Is Now Available In Special Products

Quintus Curtius Current News , ,

In response to some questions I’ve been getting since the release of Sallust, I’ve decided to offer the cover art for all of my books in a variety of products.  The website can be found by clicking here.  Once there, click on the “Products” tab to see all the different merchandise available.

Imagine having the high-resolution image above (or images from any of my book covers) on your cell phone case, coffee mug, or t-shirt.  The list of available items is impressive:

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On Forming Our Own Judgments

Quintus Curtius Thought , ,

When we need to form our own estimates of others, we should learn to trust our own judgments, and not be swayed by the criticisms or slanders of others.  Behavior is better verified by observation, rather than by the rumors and innuendos of others.

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