1And of course — for I must say what I think — the merit of military achievement surpasses all others. 1This has won a name for the Roman people, this has won eternal glory for this city, this has compelled the world to obey this empire; 1all the business of the city, all these splendid pursuits of ours, and this fame and industry in the forum, lie hidden under the guardianship and protection of martial prowess. 1As soon as the suspicion of an uprising has sounded, our arts at once fall silent. 23And since you seem to me to kiss that knowledge of the law as if it were your own little daughter, I shall not let you remain in so great an error as to think that this something-or-other which you have learnt with such effort is anything splendid.
23For other virtues, self-control, gravity, justice, good faith and all the rest, I have always judged you most worthy of the consulship and of every honour; 23as for your having learnt civil law, I shall not say you have wasted your effort, but I shall say this: that in that discipline there is no road paved to the consulship. 23For all skills which are to win us the goodwill of the Roman people ought to possess both admirable dignity and very welcome usefulness.