I believe the sect of Epicurus [a], which was introduced at Rome toward the end of the republic, contributed much toward tainting the heart and mind of the Romans [1]. The Greeks had been infatuated with this sect earlier and thus were corrupted sooner. Polybius tells us that in his time a Greek's oaths inspired no confidence, whereas a Roman was, so to speak, enchained by his [2].
A fact mentioned in the letters of Cicero to Atticus [3] shows us the extent to which the Romans had changed in this regard since the time of Polybius.
"Memmius," he says, "has just communicated to the senate the agreement his competitor and he had made with the consuls, by which the latter had pledged to favor them in their quest for the next year's consulate. And they, on their part, promised to pay the consuls four hundred thousand sisterces if they furnished three auguries which would declare that they were present when the people had made the law curiate [4], although they had not been, and two ex-consuls who would affirm that they had assisted in signing the senatus consultum which regulated the condition of their provinces, although they had not." How many dishonest men in a single contract!
Aside from the fact that religion is always the best guarantee one can have of the morals of men, it was a special trait of the Romans that they mingled some religious sentiment with their love of country. This city, founded under the best auspices; this Romulus, their king and their god; this Capitol, eternal like the city, and this city, eternal like its founder -- these, in earlier times, had made an impression on the mind of the Romans which it would have been desirable to preserve.
The greatness of the state caused the greatness of personal fortunes. But since opulence consists in morals, not riches, the riches of the Romans, which continued to have limits, produced a luxury and profusion which did not [5]. Those who had at first been corrupted by their riches were later corrupted by their poverty. With possessions beyond the needs of private life it was difficult to be a good citizen; with the desires and regrets of one whose great fortune has been ruined, one was ready for every desperate attempt. And, as Sallust says [6], a generation of men arose who could neither have a patrimony nor endure others having any.
Yet, whatever the corruption of Rome, not every misfortune was introduced there. For the strength of its institutions had been such that it preserved its heroic valor and all of its application to war in the midst of riches, indolence and sensual pleasures -- which, I believe, has happened to no other nation in the world.
Roman citizens regarded commerce [7] and the arts as the occupations of slaves [8]: they did not practice them. If there were any exceptions, it was only on the part of some freedmen who continued their original work. But, in general, the Romans knew only the art of war, which was the sole path to magistracies and honors [9]. Thus, the martial virtues remained after all the others were lost.