Strength was the virtue of paganism; obedience is the virtue of

Hear the words of David Hare, who spoke with sharp simplicity about the shifting spirit of human history: “Strength was the virtue of paganism; obedience is the virtue of Christianity.” These words cut to the heart of civilizations and their guiding stars. They remind us that every age has its own crown of honor, its own virtue held above all others. In the ancient world, the laurel wreath was awarded to the strong, the courageous, the victorious. But with the coming of the Christian faith, the laurel was replaced with the cross, and the greatest virtue was no longer to conquer, but to submit, no longer to dominate, but to obey.

The origin of this saying lies in the contrast between two great ages of the human spirit. In the pagan world of Greece and Rome, strength was supreme. Heroes such as Achilles, Alexander, and Caesar were praised for their power—the ability to impose their will upon others, to fight, to rule, to stand tall above the crowd. Virtue was measured by courage in battle, by might of arm, by resilience in the face of death. Strength was the light by which men navigated the seas of honor.

Yet when Christianity entered the world, it brought with it a profound reversal. No longer did the highest virtue belong to the warrior, but to the humble, the faithful, the one who would bend his will to God’s. Obedience—to divine law, to conscience, to the example of Christ—became the crown of honor. In Christ himself, nailed to the cross in apparent weakness, Christians saw the triumph of a different power: the obedience that submits to suffering, not for glory, but for love. The martyrs who chose death rather than defiance became the new heroes, their obedience more radiant than the swords of conquerors.

History gives us vivid examples of this shift. Consider Spartacus, the gladiator who rose against Rome. His name is remembered because he embodied pagan strength, defying his masters with the sword and leading slaves to rebellion. Now compare him to Saint Perpetua, a young Christian woman who refused to renounce her faith and went to her death in the arena. Spartacus was celebrated for his defiance, Perpetua for her obedience. Two different worlds, two different virtues, two different visions of greatness. Hare’s words capture this transformation with sharp precision.

At the heart of his statement lies the paradox of values. Strength exalts the individual, raising him above his fellows; obedience humbles the individual, binding him to something greater than himself. One declares, “I will conquer!” The other whispers, “Thy will be done.” To the ancient world, obedience was weakness; to the Christian world, strength itself was often pride, the root of sin. Thus, what one age admired, the other rebuked, and in that reversal, history itself was reshaped.

Yet this teaching is not merely about history, but about the choices that lie before us in every age. There are times when life demands strength—the courage to act, to endure, to resist. And there are times when life demands obedience—the humility to listen, to follow, to surrender to wisdom higher than our own. The greatness of the human spirit lies in knowing when to wield the sword of strength and when to bow in obedience. Neither is complete without the other, for strength without obedience becomes tyranny, and obedience without strength becomes servility.

The lesson for us, O seeker, is to discern the virtue required by the moment. In the battle against injustice, let us wield strength, as the pagans once honored. But in the face of eternal truth, let us practice obedience, as the saints once modeled. Do not despise either virtue, but weave them together into the fullness of life. In strength, conquer your fears; in obedience, conquer your pride.

Thus, remember Hare’s words: strength was once the crown, obedience became the cross. Both are needed, both are noble, but each shines in its own season. Learn to honor strength without arrogance, and obedience without weakness. For he who knows how to combine them walks not only in the footsteps of heroes but also in the footsteps of saints. This is the wisdom of the ancients, passed through the ages, and entrusted now to you.