Cato Maior de Senectute ("Cato the Elder on Old Age") is an essay written by Cicero in 44 BC on the subject of aging and death. To lend his reflections greater import,[1] Cicero wrote his essay such that the esteemed Cato the Elder was lecturing to Scipio Aemilianus and Gaius Laelius Sapiens.
The original title of the work was Cato Maior. Its subtitle was De senectute, but this came to be preferred as a short title by later writers. Cicero himself refers to the work in his other writings generally as Cato Maior and once as Cato Maior qui est scriptus ad te de senectute. Possibly he calls it Cato in one instance. Plutarch, translating De senectute, calls it Περι γήνος (Peri genos) in Greek. Most manuscript copies of the text use the full title or some variant of it (e.g., Catonis de senectute).[2]
Synopsisedit
It was written by Cicero in his sixty-third year, and is addressed to his friend Atticus.[3] Cicero represents the discourse as delivered by the elder Cato (in his eighty-fourth year) on occasion of young Scipio and Laelius expressing their admiration at the wonderful ease with which he still bore the load of life.[4] Cicero acknowledges that the sentiments put into the mouth of Cato are really Cicero's own.[4] His purpose is to show that old age is not only tolerable, but comfortable by internal resources of happiness.[4] He examines the infirmities of old age under four general headings:—that it incapacitates from mingling in the affairs of the world—that it produces infirmities of body—that it stops the enjoyment of sensual gratifications—and that it brings us to the verge of death.[4] Some of these supposed disadvantages, he maintains, are imaginary, and for any real pleasures of which the old are deprived, others more refined and higher may be substituted.[4] Overall the view of old age is optimistic.[4] He denies, for instance, that the memory is impaired—that no old man ever forgot where he had concealed his treasure.[4] The whole work is illustrated by examples of eminent Roman citizens who had passed a respected and agreeable old age.[4]
Legacyedit
A translation by the colonial American scholar James Logan was published by Benjamin Franklin, the first printing of a translation of a classic text in North America.[5]: 56 It was a favorite of former U.S. President John Adams, and was selected for inclusion in the Harvard Classics.
Quotesedit
The works of Nature must all be accounted good. (Latin: Omnia autem quae secundum naturam fiunt sunt habenda in bonis) (71)
No man is so old that he does not think himself able to live another year (Latin: nemo enim est tam senex qui se annum non putet posse vivere) (24)
^Montgomery, Thomas Harrison (1900). A History of the University of Pennsylvania from Its Foundation to A. D. 1770. Philadelphia: George W. Jacobs & Co. LCCN 00003240.
Referencesedit
Dunlop, John (1827), History of Roman literature from its earliest period to the Augustan age, vol. 1, E. Littell
External linksedit
Latin Wikisource has original text related to this article: Cato Maior de Senectute
Works related to Cato Maior de Senectute at Wikisource
cato, maior, senectute, cato, elder, essay, written, cicero, subject, aging, death, lend, reflections, greater, import, cicero, wrote, essay, such, that, esteemed, cato, elder, lecturing, scipio, aemilianus, gaius, laelius, sapiens, bust, patrician, from, roma. Cato Maior de Senectute Cato the Elder on Old Age is an essay written by Cicero in 44 BC on the subject of aging and death To lend his reflections greater import 1 Cicero wrote his essay such that the esteemed Cato the Elder was lecturing to Scipio Aemilianus and Gaius Laelius Sapiens Bust of a patrician from the Roman Republic Contents 1 Title 2 Synopsis 3 Legacy 4 Quotes 5 Editions 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksTitle editThe original title of the work was Cato Maior Its subtitle was De senectute but this came to be preferred as a short title by later writers Cicero himself refers to the work in his other writings generally as Cato Maior and once as Cato Maior qui est scriptus ad te de senectute Possibly he calls it Cato in one instance Plutarch translating De senectute calls it Peri ghnos Peri genos in Greek Most manuscript copies of the text use the full title or some variant of it e g Catonis de senectute 2 Synopsis editIt was written by Cicero in his sixty third year and is addressed to his friend Atticus 3 Cicero represents the discourse as delivered by the elder Cato in his eighty fourth year on occasion of young Scipio and Laelius expressing their admiration at the wonderful ease with which he still bore the load of life 4 Cicero acknowledges that the sentiments put into the mouth of Cato are really Cicero s own 4 His purpose is to show that old age is not only tolerable but comfortable by internal resources of happiness 4 He examines the infirmities of old age under four general headings that it incapacitates from mingling in the affairs of the world that it produces infirmities of body that it stops the enjoyment of sensual gratifications and that it brings us to the verge of death 4 Some of these supposed disadvantages he maintains are imaginary and for any real pleasures of which the old are deprived others more refined and higher may be substituted 4 Overall the view of old age is optimistic 4 He denies for instance that the memory is impaired that no old man ever forgot where he had concealed his treasure 4 The whole work is illustrated by examples of eminent Roman citizens who had passed a respected and agreeable old age 4 Legacy editA translation by the colonial American scholar James Logan was published by Benjamin Franklin the first printing of a translation of a classic text in North America 5 56 It was a favorite of former U S President John Adams and was selected for inclusion in the Harvard Classics Quotes editThe works of Nature must all be accounted good Latin Omnia autem quae secundum naturam fiunt sunt habenda in bonis 71 No man is so old that he does not think himself able to live another year Latin nemo enim est tam senex qui se annum non putet posse vivere 24 Editions editCicero On Old Age On Friendship On Divination Loeb Classical Library No 154 ISBN 0 674 99170 2 Cicero Philip Freeman tr How to Grow Old Ancient Wisdom for the Second Half of Life Princeton University Press 2016 ISBN 9780691167701Notes edit Cicero On Old Age William Melmoth transl p 2 J G F Powell ed Cicero Cato Maior De senectute Cambridge University Press 1988 p 93 Dunlop 1827 p 259 a b c d e f g h Dunlop 1827 p 260 Montgomery Thomas Harrison 1900 A History of the University of Pennsylvania from Its Foundation to A D 1770 Philadelphia George W Jacobs amp Co LCCN 00003240 References editDunlop John 1827 History of Roman literature from its earliest period to the Augustan age vol 1 E LittellExternal links edit nbsp Latin Wikisource has original text related to this article Cato Maior de Senectute nbsp Works related to Cato Maior de Senectute at Wikisource Text in Latin with English introduction at Project Gutenberg Text in English from Bartleby translated by Evelyn S Shuckburgh Text in English translated by Lamberto Bozzi 2015 Text in Latin at The Latin Library Article in Slate Overview of piece Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cato Maior de Senectute amp oldid 1150168600, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
