De Viris Illustribus (On Famous Men), as well as Cicero's
Cato Maior de senectute (On Cato or On Old Age, 45 or 44
B.C.) and
De re publica (On the Republic, 54-51
B.C.).
Plutarch says that Cato's name was originally Marcus Valerius Priscus, but that later in life he was given the name "Cato" because of his wisdom and experience (catus means shrewd or prudent). He was born to plebeian parents at Tusculum, fifteen miles southeast of Rome, in 234 B.C. Though Cato says that his ancestors distinguished themselves in battle for Rome, there is no record of his family name before him, though it became truly distinguished with him. He was left a smallholding in the Sabine territory, where he spent much of his youth. Near his farm was the residence of Manius Curius Dentatus, "the greatest Roman of his day" (according to Plutarch), who had saved his country by driving King Pyrrhus from Italy in 275 B.C. during the Samnite War (298-290 B.C.). On visits to Curius, Cato was impressed as much by the frugality of this great hero's lifestyle, by his contentment with seven acres of land after conquering a rich and powerful foe, and by his rejection of material things ("It is better to conquer men who own gold than to own it oneself."), as by the efficiency of Curius's management of his estate.
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