Give the historians something to write about.

The law itself follows gold.

The seaman tells stories of winds, the ploughman of bulls; the soldier details his wounds, the shepherd his sheep. (Elegies)

By gold all good faith has been banished; by gold our rights are abused; the law itself is influenced by gold, and soon there will be an end of every modest restraint.

By gold all good faith has been banished; by gold our rights are abused; the law itself is influenced by gold, and soon there will be an end of every modest restraint. [Lat., Auro pulsa fides. auro venalia jura, Aurum lex sequitur, mox sine lege pudor.]

In great things it is enough even to have willed.