I&#x27;m often struck how long the roman empire was able to continue operating even with terrible emperors at the helm for years or even decades.  You almost get the sense that a Augustus or Trajan or Justinian was able to refill some deep well of energy &#x2F; tradition &#x2F; momentum in the bureaucracy that was then able to sustain itself through long decades of indifference or mismanagement.  The time scales are mind-boggling compared to our typical 4&#x2F;8 year perspective.