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In this political system, there was no true aristocracy, meaning families whose right to hold titles or offices was enshrined in custom or law. There were only families who played the political game well enough to stay in the spotlight for a while. With the collapse of the civic elites, that hierarchy was not tightly concentrated around the imperial court, which now became the arbiter of power and prestige. Titles and offices were bestowed at the discretion of the court, which preferred to rotate men through the ranks in order to satisfy as many as it could and to prevent any from becoming too powerful. These men wrapped themselves in the rhetoric of aristocracy, being flattered as "well born", "noble in character" and "virtuous", but this could be said about any powerful or wealthy public figure, even someone of middling status who aspired social respectability, regardless of who his ancestors were. No one looked closely.

— New Roman Empire by Anthony Kaldellis (Page 618 - 619)

"(26) May I go to chruch after sex with my wife, or a wet dream, provided I wash first?" (Answer: Yes).

— New Roman Empire by Anthony Kaldellis (Page 605)

Herakleios' performance was virtuosic. The fate of Rome rested on this one last army, and a single defeat in these lands, so far from Roman territory, would have spelled doom. Yet Herakleios managed to prevail in every encounter, even to sack Shahrbaraz's camp, seizing his wives and slaughtering his bodyguard. The Boar fled and survived. Herakleios retreated to Asia Minor, deserted by his Caucasian allies during the frantic pursuits. It was one of the most extraordinary years in the annals of Roman warfare, and it is a pity that we have only condensed accounts.

— New Roman Empire by Anthony Kaldellis (Page 533)

Roman culture did not change dramatically in the sixth century. However, it had wasted tremendous energies in the conflict over Chalcedon, an obsession that proved intelectually sterile, culturally stultifying, and socially divisive. This dispute kept the culture in stasis, as each faction clung fast to its fifth-century coordinates, relitigating the decisions of all the Councils. The Eastern Empire was meanwhile battered by war, decimated by recurrences of the plague, and was unable to generate prior levels of revenue. Still, it had ended the Persian war to its advantage and was pushing the Avars out of the Balkans. A trajectory of recovery could be foreseen in early 602 - until Phokas' coup.

— New Roman Empire by Anthony Kaldellis (Page 508)

We have Pamprepios' horoscope, which accurately predicts his entire career and demise, seeing as it was cast a generation later.

— New Roman Empire by Anthony Kaldellis (Page 330)

Julian's level of subtlety was hard to sustain, and subsequent tradition packed the Apostate's reign with dozens of invented martyrs to make his persecution less "gentle". Historians should take none of this at face value. In Christian texts, "tyrant" and " "persecutor" are technical terms for rulers of a different theological persuasion, regardless of their actions. In many contexts, Christians called it a "persecution" when they were mere merely expected to tolerate the existence of people who disagreed with them.

— New Roman Empire by Anthony Kaldellis (Page 163)

As the movement grew, the Church sought to define its "essence". The core message was a promise of salvation through a righteous remaking of the soul; a belonging to God's new Chosen people; a rejection of idolatry; and a new set of values that paradoxically combined humility with strong feelings of superiority over others. The Church elaborated this core message and, anticipating modern corporate branding, sought to articulate its ideals; to cultivate and disseminate its image via logos, symbols (such as the cross and the fish) and diverse promotional media; to foster brand loyalty among an expanding demographic while retaining control of the message; and to counter brand competitors as pagans and heretics. Christians saw themselves as "branded by the sign of the Cross"- some took this literally, or saw crosses in natural shapes all around them. The goal was not only to win over a larger part of the surrounding culture, but "to be" the culture.

— New Roman Empire by Anthony Kaldellis (Page 115)