Ab urbe condita

But whatever decision you come to, you must make haste about it You are keeping so many peoples in suspense, with their minds distracted between hope and fear, that you are bound to relieve yourselves as soon as possible from your anxiety about them, and by exercising either punishment or kindness to pre-occupy minds which a state of strained expectancy has deprived of the power of thought.

Our task has been to put you in a position to take the whole question into consultation, your task is to decree what is best for yourselves and for the republic.”