Editing Damocles (section)

== Differing interpretations ==
Cicero's meaning in the story of the Sword of Damocles has alternative interpretations. Cicero states, "Doesn't Dionysius seem to have made it plenty clear that nothing is happy for him over whom terror always looms?" arguing that those in positions of power can never rest and truly enjoy that power.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Peralta|first=Dan-el Padilla|date=2017-11-14|title=From Damocles to Socrates|url=https://eidolon.pub/from-damocles-to-socrates-fbda6e685c26|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Medium|language=en}}</ref> Some take this and argue further, stating that the point was that death looms over all, but that it is vital to strive to be happy and enjoy life in spite of that terror.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Jaeger|first=Mary|date=November 2002|title=Cicero and Archimedes' Tomb|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3184859|journal=Journal of Roman Studies|volume=92|pages=49–61|doi=10.2307/3184859|jstor=3184859|s2cid=162402665|issn=0075-4358}}</ref> Others take the meaning to be something akin to "don't judge someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes," as it is impossible to know what someone is struggling with, even if their life seems to be perfect to the outside observer. Just as King Dionysius's life looked luxurious and flawless on the outside to Damocles, so too might the lives of others that one covets for oneself.<ref name=":0" /> One other interpretation sees the story of the sword of Damocles as explicitly meant for [[Julius Caesar]], implicitly suggesting that he should take care not to act the same way that King Dionysius did, making enemies and denying spiritual life, falling prey to the pitfalls of the [[tyrant]], and mind the sword hanging ever-present over his neck.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Verbaal|first=Wim|date=2006|title=Cicero and Dionysios the Elder, or the End of Liberty|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/clw.2006.0050|journal=Classical World|volume=99|issue=2|pages=145–156|doi=10.1353/clw.2006.0050|s2cid=161906192 |issn=1558-9234}}</ref>