Plutarch, however, does not make it out to have been very great, assuming a sum which was equal to about L4200 of our money.

He tells us at the same time that Cicero's own fortune was less than L4000.

But in both of these statements, Plutarch, who was forced to take his facts where he could get them, and was not very particular in his authority, probably erred.

The early education of Cicero, and the care taken to provide him with all that money could purchase, is, I think, conclusive of his father's wealth; and the mode of life adopted by Cicero shows that at no period did he think it necessary to live as men do live with small incomes.
We shall find, as we go on, that he spent his money freely, as men did at Rome who had the command of large means.

We are aware that he was often in debt.