He is said to have owed over L300,000 before he reached his first step in the public employment.

Cicero rushed into no such danger as this.

We know, indeed, that when the time came to him for public expenditure on a great scale, as, for instance, when he was filling the office of AEdile, he kept within bounds, and he did not lavish money which he did not possess.

We know also that he refrained, altogether refrained, from the iniquitous habits of making large fortunes which were open to the great politicians of the Republic.

To be Quaestor that he might be AEdile, AEdile that he might be Praetor and Consul, and Praetor and Consul that he might rob a province--pillage Sicily, Spain, or Asia, and then at last come back a rich man, rich enough to cope with all his creditors, and to bribe the judges should he be accused for his misdeeds--these were the usual steps to take by enterprising Romans toward power, wealth, and enjoyment.