According to Suetonius, Vespasian was extremely ironic about the practice of deifying the rulers of Rome. Supposedly, sensing the approaching death, he was to say: “I think I’m becoming a god” (vae, puto, deus fio).
In turn, when he was already on his deathbed, he suddenly stood up saying: “An emperor ought to die standing” (imperatorem stantem oportet mori).
