There were three men, all just six years his senior, who had risen or were rising into great repute; they were Pompey, Cicero, and Catiline.

There were two who were noted for having clean hands in the midst of all the dirt around; and they were undoubtedly the first Romans of the day.
Catiline was determined that he too would be among the first Romans of the day; but his hands had never been clean.

Which was the better way for such a one as Caesar to go?
To have had Pompey under his feet, or Cicero, must have then seemed to Caesar to be impracticable, though the time came when he did, in different ways, have his feet on both.

With Catiline the chance of success might be better.

Crassus he had already compassed.