Institutio Oratoria

But Cicero has relieved me of any feeling of shame that I might have in controverting his opinion, since he has not only expressed his disapproval of his Rhetorica, but in the Orator, [*](Orator xiv. 45. ) the de Oratore and the Topica [*](de Or. iii. 30; Top. 21. ) instructs us to abstract such discussions from particular persons and occasions,

because we can speak more fully on general than on special themes, and because what is proved of the whole must also be proved of the part.

In all general questions, however, the essential basis is the same as in a cause or definite question. It is further pointed out that there are some questions which

concern

things in themselves,

while others have a particular reference; an example of the former will be the question

Should a man marry?

of the latter

Should an old man marry?

; or again the question whether a man is brave will illustrate the first, while the question whether he is braver than another will exemplify the second.