“Furthermore, he was rather undisturbed by abuse, slander, or mockery on his person and family, and would say that the freedom to speak and think is the mark of a free country.”
Sed et aduersus conuicia malosque rumores et famosa de se ac suis carmina firmus ac patiens subinde iactabat in ciuitate libera linguam mentemque liberas esse debere
This is from an emperor (Rome’s second) who was fond of rubbing lobsters on and slapping fish across his critics’ faces.
