# The enemy of humanity and the lion

Commentary on Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton.

On [CH03.P002](https://glosses.org/orthodoxy/pg16769-r1/CH03.P002/#char=1235,1300): "He really is the enemy of the human race--because he is so human."

The joke reverses a recognizable ancient accusation. Tacitus's *Annals* XV.44 says that Christians punished under Nero were convicted less for arson than for hatred of humankind. In the inspected 1937 Loeb translation, the execution methods include dogs, crosses and burning; lions are not specified there. [Tacitus, XV.44.4–5, pp. 283–285](https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/tacitus/annals/15b%2A.html#44).

The lion belongs to the wider persecution tradition. Tertullian's *Apology* 40 reports the crowd's cry for Christians to be given to the lion whenever flood, drought, earthquake or pestilence strikes. The inspected witness is S. Thelwall's translation in *Ante-Nicene Fathers* III (1885), reproduced by New Advent. [Tertullian, chapter 40](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0301.htm). Chesterton combines the charge of hostility to humanity with this familiar spectacle, then makes excessive humanitarianism the alleged offence. His mock verdict does not establish that historical Christians deserved persecution; its force depends on presenting Blatchford as the exception who would make the old charge come true.

## Sources

- [Tacitus, Annals XV, Loeb Classical Library volume V, 1937, reproduced by LacusCurtius](https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/tacitus/annals/15b%2A.html#44), XV.44.4–5, printed pp. 283–285
- [Tertullian, Apology, translated by S. Thelwall, Ante-Nicene Fathers III, 1885](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0301.htm), Chapter 40, opening accusation and catalogue of disasters; page's source statement identifies translation

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