Follow the Leader, Caesar

"A ruler should be slow to punish and swift to reward."

~ Ovid

"No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent."

~ Abraham Lincoln

"What you cannot enforce, Do not command."

~ Sophocles


These are all quotes that embody certain traits and behaviours I think a good leader should exhibit. Firstly, Ovid means that a ruler should be tentative with his actions and to not make split decisions on a whim without certain conviction. Caesar does make impulsive decisions and it is debatable whether they are for the better or not. Saying that, of course all things hold positive and negative values but when it comes to his decision on the massacre of the legion at Cenabum, I cannot agree. Although Caesar was generally a leader of integrity, decisions like these make it harder to point out exactly how he always made good decisions for the benefit of people.
Regarding the second quote, obviously a majority of people vote in people of power in today's democratic society but back in ancient civilizations it was obvious that people manipulated and even went as far as "murder" to achieve power. Caesar was however, very good with appealing and persuading the people of the Roman Empire. He could manipulate the Senate and the civilians in order to gain acceptance as a ruler and his dictatorial decisions. In modern times, democracy is certainly something we as people value and this quote directly concerns the voice of the people who choose who they want in power.
Lastly, the last quote deals with the prospect of not taking on more than you can handle. As a leader, the ability to keep control and order over vast masses of people is a valuable skill to have. Having instability and chaos within populations as vast as the Roman Empire (or any of today's controlled regions) would be disastrous. Caesar was able to do this very well in fact. He could control masses of people and control the order and stability of his military advances.

Having these skills and qualities as a ruler certainly is an advantage and looking at Caesar, he was an excellent one, for the most part.