One look at the bust of Marcus Porcius Cato, Cato the Elder, and it becomes readily evident that he was a harder man that the Carrara marble on which the lines of his face are etched. Cato was born a plebian, a farmer, no stranger to the plough. He was a citizen of the Roman Republic, which meant that he was also a warrior. He fought in the Hannibalic war and was there with Scipio at Zama. Though of humble birth, he attracted the attention of his superiors. He was given a command in Sardinia and later in Spain, where he brutally put down a revolt earning himself a triumph through the streets of Rome. He also played a critical role in forcing the pass of Thremopylae against Antinocius of Syria solidifying Rome’s hold on Greece.
His solid background as a farmer and citizen soldier served him well in his career as a statesman. He was elected quaestor, then aedile, then praetor, and ultimately consul – the highest office of the Republic. Having endured Hannibal’s devastating campaign in Italy, his obsession was the final destruction of Rome’s archrival Carthage. Though out his long career as a senator he gave many speeches on many topics, but regardless of the topic, each speech was ended with "Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam." (Moreover, I advise that Carthage should be destroyed.) He eventually urged his fellow citizens into the Third Punic War, and Carthage was destroyed. (Thus, the modern legal term, “punitive” damages, for the purposes of punishing a defendant.)
Cato’s life work was devoted to checking the cancerous spread of the degenerative morals of Hellenism. He imposed severe taxes on luxuries, especially those trifles favored by women. He fought with horror the licensing of the Bacchanalian mysteries. He fought to prevent the accumulation of wealth in women (who presumably would waste it on trifles.) He sought the expulsion of Greek philosophers for spreading immorality. He even taxed pretty, young boy slaves used as favorites, yet another unsavory “Greek” practice.
Discipline was required in private life as well, because the family was the germ of the State. He was a hard husband, a strict father and a cruel slave master. His sense of discipline allowed him to accomplish much in the time allotted to him. In addition to his exhaustive public life, he also authored the first Latin history of Rome and even wrote a guide on how to run a well order Italian farm. In this how-to book, Cato provides slave advise, such as: avoiding multiple slaves of the same nationality, working them so hard they do not have energy for mischief, when and when not to use fetters, treating the foreman slave slightly better, etc.
To the Roman citizenry, Cato came to personify the strength, morals and common sense of the “old school” Roman. None of the ancient historians who covered his achievements was critical of his harsh treatment of others and his rigid application of rules. Rather he was look upon nostalgically as what a Roman was once and should be.
The last public office that Cato held was the Censorship. This position was very important and was made available only to those who were considered to have unassailable morals and usually only available to those who had already served as consul. The Censor was charged with counting the tribes and centuries in preparation for the votes (thus, the modern word “census”). He was also charged with selecting those citizens deemed morally and financial preeminent enough to be a member of the equites (knights) and a member of the Senate. The Censor was empowered to impose fines on members of the Republic who failed to act in a way consistent with the rights of citizenship (thus, the modern word “censorship”). If you failed to live up to the standard of Roman citizen, the Censor would fine you for your shortcoming…