Every man, O judges, who, without being prompted by any enmity, or stung by any
private injury, or tempted by any reward, prosecutes another for the good of the
republic, ought to consider, not only how great a burden he is liking upon himself
at the time, but also how much trouble he is courting for the remainder of
his life. For he imposes on himself a law of innocence, of
moderation, and of all virtues, who demands from another an account of his life; and
he does so the more if, as I said before, he does this being urges by no other
motive except a desire for the common good.
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M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge. London. George Bell & Sons. 1903.
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