What is the meaning of the phrase, "All roads lead to Rome"?

mike32768

http://e4u.english.org.mx/business/business.html?pageid=1756 "All roads lead to Rome means that there are many different ways to reach the same outcome or destination" May 27 07, 7:20 PM

lanfranco

Originally, that ancient and unattributed saying wasn't quite so benign. It basically meant, No matter what you do, no matter how you try to get around it, you'll be doing things the Roman way, because Rome is the place the matters, the center of the world. Get used to it." The well-planned and guarded Roman road system was designed to make sure that the provinces couldn't use it against the Romans. May 27 07, 8:02 PM

queproblema

That's what I thought (think), too, Frankie, but couldn't find a reference. And, more benignly, that Rome was the hub of the universe. Link, anyone? May 27 07, 8:32 PM

lanfranco

A few cliches associated with Rome, including "Tutte le strade portano a Roma": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbols_and_Trivia_of_Rome May 27 07, 9:15 PM

igotmeajd

The origins of the phrased stemmed from the fact that, initially, all roads did lead to Rome. The Romans were extremely skilled road makers...and the first to establish such a system of roads. They were also the first to use mile-markers. The Romans designed their roads purposefully so that they all led to Rome, with Rome the central hub. This was done to hinder provinces from organizing resistance against the Empire. The History Channel recently aired an excellent documentary on this subject...I think it was part of their "Engineering An Empire" series. This link is helpful...it's all about Roman roads. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_road May 27 07, 11:44 PM