[75]
And in this I pass over that thing which might be a
strong argument for me to prove his innocence, that atrocities of this sort are not
usually produced among country manners, in a sober course of life, in an unpolished and
rough sort of existence. As you cannot find every sort of crop, nor every tree, in every
field, so every sort of crime is not engendered in every sort of life. In a city, luxury
is engendered; avarice is inevitably produced by luxury; audacity must spring from
avarice, and out of audacity arises every wickedness and every crime. But a country
life, which you call a clownish one, is the teacher of economy, of industry, and of
justice.
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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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