[neuralkoi]

There's a story about Diocletian, the emperor who guided Rome through one of the most turbulent periods of its history, and later voluntarily abdicated and retired to his villa. When they begged him back to resolve some conflicts that had arisen he stated:

"If you could see the cabbages I have planted here with my own hands, you surely would never have thought to request this."

[arethuza]

Worth noting that Diocletian's retirement "villa" was actually a massive palace that still forms the heart of the city of Split in Croatia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletian%27s_Palace