Plutarch's Lives, Vol. 1

Marcus Cato comes from an obscure family from Tusculum. As a young man, he practices law in Rome and tends his small farm. He is ambitious, however, to gain fame for military service to Rome. As he becomes more prominent in public life, he develops strong views on the importance of hard work and frugal spending—views that sometimes bring him into conflict with other public figures, such as the general Scipio.

Cato’s eloquence helps him gain more and more political power. Plutarch also highlights Cato’s great thriftiness, which in Plutarch’s view is sometimes excessive. Plutarch discusses some of Cato’s famous sayings about politics, virtue, and agriculture.

At about 40, Cato is elected consul and takes charge of nearer Spain. He efficiently puts down some anti-Roman uprisings, though some accuse him of brutality. Scipio feels provoked by Cato’s success and seeks an opportunity to bolster himself by winning the next consulship. Having attained the highest honors of the Republic—the consulship, successful military campaigns, and Triumphs—Cato decides to continue his involvement in public life rather than retire. He becomes involved in the war with Antiochus, the ruler of the Seleucid Empire.

Ten years after his consulship, Cato is appointed censor, an appointment that underscores the high esteem in which the Romans held him. He performs an inquiry into public life and manners, encouraging frugality (by introducing measures to limit public displays of wealth) and removing problematic figures from the senate. Though some of Cato’s measures are unpopular, the Romans generally approve of him and his censorship.

Plutarch discusses some less-appealing aspects of Cato’s values, including his harsh treatment of enslaved persons and the questionable ways in which he made money. Plutarch notes that Cato complained very vigorously about the Romans’ importation of Greek culture, believing that love of Greek culture would weaken the Roman spirit. In this, however, Cato is mostly ignored.

Toward the end of his life, Cato complains above all about philosophers and physicians. He writes a book of his own about farming and home remedies. The elderly Cato also becomes convinced that Carthage must be destroyed before they attack Rome again. He dies just as the Third Punic War begins.

Aristides and Cato, Plutarch writes, were similar in many ways. However, Aristides began his rise before Athens had reached the height of its power, while Cato entered public life when Rome was thriving. Cato was more distinguished as a soldier and general, but the campaigns in which Aristides was involved (the Persian Wars) were far more important in Greek history than Cato’s were in Roman history. Cato was much more successful financially than Aristides, who was known for his poverty. Finally, while both men were known for their virtue and justice, Plutarch views the humble Aristides as more sincere in his overall virtue than the ambitious Cato.