A Eulogy of the Proconsul of Africa
8. He owes more to his personal character than to his rank, although even his rank is one that is shared by few. For out of numberless multitudes of men not many are senators, of senators but few are of noble birth, of the noble but few attain to the rank of consul, of consuls but few are good, and of the good but few are learned. But to confine what I have to say to his high office, ’tis not lightly that any man may assume the insignia of his rank either as regards clothing or foot-gear.