1. Cato, that sage Roman, seeing a luxurious man loaded with flesh, "Of what service," saith he, "can that man be, either to himself, or the commonwealth?" One day beholding the statues of several persons erecting, that he thought little worthy of remembrance, that he might despise the pride of it, "I had rather," said he, "they should ask, why they set not up a statue to Cato, than why they do."--He was a man of severity of life, both example and judge.--His competitors in the government, hoping to be preferred, took the contrary humour, and mightily flattered the people: this good man despised their arts, and with an unusual fervency cried out, "That the distempers of the commonwealth did not require flatterers to deceive them, but physicians to cure them;" which struck so great an awe upon the people, that he was first chosen of them all.--The fine dames of Rome became governors to their husbands; he lamented the change, saying, "It is strange that those who command the world should yet be subject to women."--He thought those judges, that would not impartially punish malefactors, greater criminals than the malefactors themselves: a good lesson for judges of the world. He would say, That it was better to lose a gift than a correction; "for," says he, "the one corrupts us, but the other instructs us.--That we ought not to separate honour from virtue; for then there would be few any more virtuous." He would say, "No man is fit to command another, that cannot command himself. Great men should be temperate in their power, that they may keep it. For men to be too long in offices in a government, is to have too little regard to others, or the dignity of the state. They that do nothing, will learn to do evil. That those who have raised themselves by their vices, should gain to themselves credit by virtue." He repented him, that ever he passed away one day without doing good. And that there is no witness any man ought to fear, but that of his own conscience. Nor did his practice fall much short of his principles. II. Scipio Africanus, though a great general, loaded with honours and triumphs, preferred retirement to them all; being used to say, That he was never less alone, than when he was alone: implying, that the most busy men in the world, are the most destitute of themselves; and, that external solitariness gives the best company within. After he had taken Carthage, his soldiers brought him a most beautiful prisoner; he answered, "I am your general;" refusing to debase himself, or dishonour her.