“People Sleep Peacefully in Their Beds at Night Only Because Rough Men Stand Ready to Do Violence on Their Behalf”
– Attributed to George Orwell
In the episode, we examine whether or not Orwell’s quote has historical evidence to support it. Are people civilized only because less civilized men guard them while they sleep? Building on the scholarship of Georges Dumézil who compared the mythologies are various Indo European peoples, this podcast argues yes. Not only that, anthropological data also suggests this contention reveals a fundamental distrust civilian leaders have always had toward warriors, especially those who were successful. When examining war honestly, which the ancients did and we do not, a historical pattern emerges that has similarities across continents and cultures. Warriors are not trusted and there is probably good reason for that.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.