CATO the Elder 234 - 149 BC Roman Statesman Marcus Porcius Cato, the Elder, was a soldier, orator and historian, whose stern morality became proverbial. He was the first Roman author to write in Latin. He was called the Elder to distinguish himself from his great-grandson Cato the Younger. Cato was bred to agriculture, to which he devoted himself when not engaged in military service. In Rome he successively held the offices of Tribune, Quastor, Praetor and Consul. Cato firmly opposed foreign, that is Greek, influences, believing that they would corrupt his people. He was proud of fighting in the Punic Wars against Hannibal of Carthage. In the Senate he ended his every speech , no matter the topic, by saying: "Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam." - "Furthermore, I think that Carthage must be destroyed". His influence helped bring the Third Punic War, which led to the destruction of Carthage. |
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