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Document Details : Title: Cato's Stoic Image and the Fight against the Monetization of Politics Author(s): GÓCZON, Tamás Journal: Latomus Volume: 84 Issue: 2 Date: 2025 Pages: 260-281 DOI: 10.2143/LAT.84.2.3294647 Abstract : It is generally assumed that Cato’s influence on Roman politics was far out of proportion to his wealth and offices. This paper primarily explores Cato’s attitude towards wealth. The image of a man who advocates the puritanism of an idealized past suited the political goal of restoring the waning authority of the Senate perfectly, as it strove to curb the influence of the wealthy and reduce extraordinary appointments. Cato’s electoral defeat in 52 BC revealed that providing the moral high ground, this image and its stoic aspect adapted to desperate oppositional roles. Emphasizing the significance of Cato’s connections, his relative poverty should also be reevaluated. His unique character provided additional influence in everyday life, while through the agency of his allies, the traditional avenues of politics, even bribery in extreme cases, opened up before him without seriously tarnishing his image. |
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