The proverb when in Rome, do as the Romans do suggests one should respect local customs and traditions, but also more generally that sometimes it’s better to go along with a group’s consensus than resist and make a fuss. But why in Rome and not in some other city? The story behind this bit of advice goes back to the boy who would become St. Augustine and a question he posed to the bishop of Milan about the customs in different cities around the religious practice of fasting. This saying is now so well-known that it’s sometimes simply shortened to When in Rome. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “The Origin of “When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do”: Augustine’s Question About Fasting Customs”
Hello.
You have A Way with Words.
Hi.
I’m Genevieve calling from Milan.
Well, welcome to the program, Genevieve.
What’s on your mind?
I wanna know the origin of when in Rome do as the Romans do.
When in Rome do as the Romans do?
Is this something that came up in your house or in school or in your reading?
I just was wondering because I sometimes use this a…’
I just really use this a lot.
Genevieve, that’s such a good question.
And what do you mean when you say when in Rome do as the Romans do?
Yeah.
It means to respect what…
Like, if you’re somewhat someplace else, it means respect their customs and what they do.
Yes.
That is exactly right.
That’s a perfect description of what that phrase means.
And what’s really interesting about is that it has a very, very, very long history.
In fact, it goes back about sixteen hundred years.
Can you believe that?
No.
Well, let me tell you about how this phrase got started.
Because about sixteen hundred years ago, there was a woman and her son whose name was Augustine, and they lived in Milan, the city of Milan, which is in what is now Italy.
And they were puzzled about something because the mom and her son were both Christians, and they found out that in the city of Rome, which is about 300 miles away, The Christians, they’re fasted on Saturdays.
That means they didn’t eat anything at all.
But in Milan, where the two of them lived, they noticed that Christians did not fast on Saturdays.
They could eat whatever and whenever they wanted.
So mom and her son were wondering, well, what are good Christians supposed to do?
And her son, Augustine, went to a religious leader there, the bishop there in Milan, and basically said, you know, what’s the rule?
Are we supposed eat on Saturdays or not?’
Cause I’m seeing different people doing different things.
And the bishop basically said to him, when I’m in Rome, I do what the Romans do.
So if I’m in Rome on Saturday, I fast.
But when I’m here in Milan, I do what the people of Milan do.
They don’t fast on Saturdays, so I don’t either.
So in other words, exactly as you said, the advice that this religious leader gave them was wherever you go, you should disrespect the local customs.
And so this story was passed down through generations, and the woman’s son, Augustine, grew up to be a saint, Saint Augustine.
And the story was eventually condensed into various versions and then finally into the proverb that you mentioned, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
So it has a very, very long history behind it.
Well, I didn’t know that.
That’s why you called.
Yeah.
But it’s good advice, don’t you think?
Mhmm.
So Martha, my understanding is these days, it’s not just about the customs of another place, but it’s also when you find the mood of a group or the the the consensus of a group around you is going a different way than you want to go.
It’s when you just say, you know, win in Rome and you go along with the group just because it’s easier or you don’t care very much.
Yeah.
That’s another example of it.
And it’s another example of how this saying has even gotten shortened the way that you used it, Grant, just went in Rome.
You don’t even have to finish that sentence because everybody knows the the saying.
That’s interesting.
Yeah.
So now you have a story that you can share with your friends when you’re wherever.
Thank you for spending some time with us.
You’re welcome.
Alright.
You take care now.
Give our best to your family.
Ok?
Ok.
Alright.
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