What was the quote by a Roman Emperor, where he said give bread to the populace?

That was where the word and term "dole" came from. It's of Roman origin cause of the free bread.

However I've forgotten the bit you need - sorry.

^For above: Marie Antoinette acutally said cake cause due to France's whacky aristrocratic economy of the time, cake was actually cheaper to buy/own than bread. So naturally she said cake as it was cheaper, in stock, and the only thing they had to feed em. Not cause she wanted to treat them.

I think you're referring to "give them bread and circuses"

I am attaching a link about this.

I can also recommend a google search with

panem et circenses

I got the Latin from another site and found it produced more relevant results (in English) than the more modern idiom.

This quote will pop up on the Sunday talk show circuit whenever an administration tries to distract the populace from something, particularly the economy.

This quote has been attributed to both Augustus and Juvenal.

The Flavian Amphitheater with the statue of a colossus out front giving it the nickname Colisseum, was constructed after the death of Nero, using some of the waterworks developed for the lake Nero had constructed on the site of a part of the city that had burned to simulate the naval battles they staged there.

Just going by memory I would have agreed with triviadude318's answer and I too didn't know the emperor's name. One remembers certain facts from our college studies, but sometimes not all.

"I don't know that a Roman emperor ever said anything specifically about bread. However, the general view is that corrupt Roman emperors used bread and entertainment as a way of keeping the population of Rome distracted while their empire fell apart. This is where the phrase "Bread & Circuses" comes from."

We got william_byrnes2000 to thank for the answer!

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This Site Might Help You.

RE:

What was the quote by a Roman Emperor, where he said give bread to the populace?

It was something in regard to making a restless populace complacent... I think it was said about the time of the Colosseum.

I don't know that a Roman emperor ever said anything specifically about bread. However, the general view is that corrupt Roman emperors used bread and entertainment as a way of keeping the population of Rome distracted while their empire fell apart. This is where the phrase "Bread & Circuses" comes from.

Emperor Nero Quotes

But Marie Antoinette and whatever Roman emporer are supposed to have said, anyone should know that "man cannot live by bread alone, he must have peanut butter."

Marie Antoinette was supposed to have said "Let them eat cake" in response to hearing about the bread shortage and the plight of the peasants. Of course it was probably just one of the many nasty rumors circulating about her.

That was in France. Don't know a thing about it happening in Rome, however. Except what I just googled: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_circuses

I didn't think she wanted to treat them. "Nasty Rumor" might have given it away.

Give bread to the populace, and tell all 15 year old lazy American Children to do their own damn homework

Nero