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.