Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata

The Elder Cato, in assailing the profligacy and extravagance rife among the people, said that it was hard to talk to a belly which had no ears. [*](Cf. Moralia, 131 D and 996 D, and Plutarch’s Life of M. Cato, chap. viii. (340 A). )

He said he wondered how a city could continue to exist unscathed in which a fish sold for more than an ox ! [*](Ibid. and Moralia, 668 B.)

In bitter criticism of the prevalent domination of women, he said, All mankind rules its women,

He said that he preferred to receive no thanks when he had done a favour rather than to suffer no punishment when he had done a wrong, and that he always granted pardon to all who erred, with the single exception of himself. [*](Cf. Plutarch’s Life of M. Cato, chap. viii. (340 F).)

In trying to stimulate the officials to administer sharp rebuke to the erring, he used to say that, if those who have the power to discourage crime do not discourage it, then they encourage it. [*](Cf. the somewhat similar sentiment attributed to Pythagoras in Stobaeus, Florilegium, xlviii. 112.)

He said that it gave him more joy to see those of the youth that blushed than those that blanched. [*](Cf. Moralia, 29 E and 528 F, and the Life of M. Cato, chap. ix. (341 C).)

He said that he hated a soldier who plied his hands in marching and his feet in fighting, and whose snore was louder than his battle-cry. [*](Life of M. Cato, ibid.)

He said that the worst ruler is one who cannot rule himself. [*](Cf. Moralia, 210 F (33), infra.)

He thought it especially necessary for every man to respect himself, since no man is ever separated from himself.

Seeing that statues were being set up in honour of many men, he said, As for myself, I had rather that men should ask why there is not a statue of Cato than why there is. [*](Cf. Moralia, 820 B, and the Life of M. Cato, chap. xix. (347 C).)

He charged those in power to be sparing of their authority, so that authority might continue always to be theirs.

He used to say that those who rob virtue of honour rob youth of virtue.

An official or a judge, he said, ought neither to require importuning to grant what is right nor to yield to importuning to grant what is wrong.

Wrongdoing, he used to say, even if it brings no risk to its authors, brings risk to all.

He used to say that, since there are so many odious things connected with old age, it is only right not to add the odium which comes from vice. [*](Cf. Moralia, 784 A and 829 F; and Plutarch’s Life of M. Cato, chap. ix. (341 D).)

He had an idea that the man who has lost his temper differs from him who has lost his mind only in duration of time. [*](Cf. Horace, Epistles, i. 2. 62; Seneca, De ira, i. 1. 2.)

He said that those who use their good fortune reasonably and moderately are least envied; for people envy not us but our surroundings.

He used to say that those who are serious in ridiculous matters will be ridiculous in serious matters.

He used to say that it is necessary to make good deeds secure by means of good deeds, so that they may not fall off in their repute.

He used to rebuke the citizens for electing always the same men to office. For, said he, you will give the impression that you hold office to be of no great worth, or else that you hold not many men to be worthy of office. [*](Cf. Plutarch’s Life oF M. Cato, chap. viii. (340 D).)