Institutio Oratoria

The derogatory he illustrates by the words used by Cicero of Pompey and Caesar in a letter to Atticus: [*](Ad. Att. VIII. vii. 2. )

I know whom to avoid, but whom to follow I know not.

Finally, he illustrates the intermediate, which he calls apophthegmatic (as it is), by the passage from Cicero's speech against Catiline [*](IV ii. 3.) where he says,

Death can never be grievous to the brave nor premature for one who has been consul nor a calamity to one that is truly wise.

All these are admirable sayings, but what special title they have to be called urbane I do not see.

If it is not merely, as I think, the whole complexion of our oratory that deserves this title, but if it is to be claimed for individual sayings as well, I should give the name only to those sayings that are of the same general character as humorous sayings, without actually being humorous. I will give an

illustration of what I mean. It was said of Asinius Pollio, who had equal gifts for being grave or gay, that he was

a man for all hours,