This text is part of:
Search the Perseus Catalog for:
[2]
Concerning intentions there can be no questions which do not
involve some person and where the facts of the
case are not admitted. Therefore when the question
turns on some fact, the point on which doubt arises
is either what has been done, or what is being done,
or what is likely to be done. For example, in general
questions we discuss whether the universe has been
formed of a concourse of atoms, or is governed by
[p. 47]
providence, or is likely some day to come to an end.
In definite questions, on the other hand, we discuss whether Roscius has murdered his father,
whether Manlius is aiming at making himself king,
or Quintus Caecilius will be justified in appearing
as the accuser of Verres.
Quintilian. With An English Translation. Harold Edgeworth Butler. Cambridge. Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1922.
The Annenberg CPB/Project provided support for entering this text.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 United States License.
An XML version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer Perseus any modifications you make. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning system.