Sallust

Sallust – Life, Career, and Famous Sayings

Sallust (86 BC–34 BC) was a Roman historian and politician whose works The Conspiracy of Catiline and The Jugurthine War remain essential sources for the late Roman Republic. Discover his life, career, philosophy, and timeless quotes.

Introduction

Gaius Sallustius Crispus, known simply as Sallust, was a Roman historian, political figure, and moral critic of the late Republic. Born in 86 BC in the Sabine territory of Italy, he rose through Roman politics to become a supporter of Julius Caesar. His literary works, Bellum Catilinae (The Conspiracy of Catiline) and Bellum Jugurthinum (The Jugurthine War), stand as some of the earliest surviving examples of Roman historical prose.

Unlike the sweeping histories of Livy or the analytical depth of Tacitus, Sallust’s style is concise, forceful, and moralistic. He was concerned not only with events but with the corruption of Roman morals, the decay of political institutions, and the dangers of ambition. His works remain vital both as historical sources and as reflections on politics, morality, and human nature.

Early Life and Background

Sallust was born in Amiternum, a town in the Sabine region of central Italy, in 86 BC. His family was likely of equestrian rank, giving him access to education and a path into Roman politics. Ancient accounts suggest he was not of Rome’s oldest aristocracy, which perhaps explains his later resentment of the entrenched senatorial elite.

As a young man, Sallust was educated in rhetoric and literature, absorbing the influences of both Roman oratory and Greek historiography. His later style owes much to the Greek historian Thucydides, whose brevity and moral analysis Sallust consciously imitated.

Political Career

Tribune of the Plebs

Sallust entered Roman politics as a tribune of the plebs in 52 BC. This was a turbulent year in Rome: the populist tribune Clodius Pulcher was murdered by supporters of Milo, leading to riots and chaos. Sallust positioned himself against Milo and Pompey’s faction, aligning with Julius Caesar’s populares.

Expulsion and Recall

In 50 BC, Sallust was expelled from the Senate by the censor Appius Claudius Pulcher, allegedly on grounds of immorality and corruption. Ancient sources suggest personal scandal, though this may have been politically motivated.

His fortunes revived when Caesar emerged victorious in the Civil War. Sallust threw his support behind Caesar and was rewarded with offices and commands.

Military Service and Governorship

During the civil war, Sallust served as praetor in 46 BC and later commanded part of Caesar’s forces in Africa. After Caesar’s victory, he was appointed governor of Africa Nova (modern Algeria/Tunisia). There he was accused of extortion and misgovernment, but escaped punishment, possibly due to Caesar’s protection.

When Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC, Sallust withdrew permanently from politics, retreating to his luxurious gardens on the Quirinal Hill in Rome. These gardens (the Horti Sallustiani) became famous and were later enjoyed by emperors.

Historical Works

After retiring from politics, Sallust devoted himself to writing. His surviving works are central to our knowledge of late Republican Rome:

The Conspiracy of Catiline (Bellum Catilinae)

This monograph covers the failed conspiracy of Lucius Sergius Catilina in 63 BC, when Catiline plotted to overthrow the Republic. Sallust explores Catiline’s character, the causes of corruption in Roman politics, and the decisive actions of Cicero as consul.

Key themes:

• The decline of Roman morals after the destruction of Carthage.

• Ambition and greed as destructive forces.

• A focus on character analysis rather than exhaustive chronology.

The Jugurthine War (Bellum Jugurthinum)

This work narrates Rome’s war against Jugurtha, king of Numidia, between 112 and 105 BC. Jugurtha’s bribery of Roman senators exposed the corruption of Rome’s ruling class.

Key themes:

• How bribery and corruption undermined Roman strength.

• The contrast between noble Roman virtues and contemporary decadence.

• A harsh critique of the Senate’s greed and incompetence.

Histories (Historiae)

Sallust also began a more ambitious history covering the years 78–67 BC, but only fragments survive. They reveal his continued interest in moral lessons and political analysis rather than exhaustive record-keeping.

Style and Philosophy

Sallust’s historical writing is distinct from the flowing, rhetorical Livy or the philosophical Cicero. His style is:

• Concise and archaic: imitating old Roman forms to project seriousness.

• Moralistic: emphasizing decline, corruption, and the dangers of ambition.

• Character-driven: focusing on the motivations and psychology of individuals.

His philosophy of history was that Rome’s strength had been built on discipline, poverty, and simplicity—but once wealth and empire expanded after the fall of Carthage, moral corruption spread. Sallust presents history as a warning: unchecked ambition and greed could destroy the Republic from within.

Legacy and Influence

Sallust’s works influenced later historians like Tacitus, who admired his brevity and moral analysis. Medieval scholars preserved his writings as examples of Latin prose. During the Renaissance, humanists praised his style and used his texts to reflect on civic corruption.

Today, Sallust remains a key primary source for the study of:

• Cicero and the Catilinarian conspiracy.

• Roman politics of the late Republic.

• The moral critique of power.

His voice resonates with contemporary readers because he grapples with timeless questions: How do power and wealth corrupt? Can republics preserve virtue amid empire?

Personality and Traits

From his works and ancient reports, Sallust appears as:

• Cynical observer of politics, deeply skeptical of elites.

• Ambitious and partisan, yet able to reflect critically once retired.

• Morally conflicted: while he denounced greed and corruption, he himself faced charges of corruption.

• Intellectually rigorous, influenced by Greek models but determined to speak as a Roman moralist.

Famous Sayings of Sallust

Sallust’s sharp sentences continue to be quoted as aphorisms:

“Small communities survive by faith and friendship; great empires fall by luxury and indifference.”

“Harmony makes small states great, while discord undermines the mightiest empires.” (Jugurthine War, 10)

“To accomplish great things, one must dare greatly.”

“It is always easy to begin a war, but very difficult to end it.”

“Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue.” (Catiline’s Conspiracy)

These sayings reflect his concerns with ambition, corruption, and the fragility of states.

Lessons from Sallust

1. History as Moral Mirror
   Sallust shows how history is not just record-keeping but moral reflection—warning future generations about corruption.

2. Beware of Ambition and Greed
   His analysis of Catiline and Jugurtha demonstrates how personal ambition corrodes civic life.

3. Republics Depend on Virtue
   For Sallust, discipline, frugality, and harmony sustained Rome; decadence and greed doomed it.

4. Clarity in Expression
   His concise, forceful style reminds us that brevity can carry greater weight than ornamented speech.

Conclusion

Sallust (86–34 BC) remains one of Rome’s most compelling historians—a politician turned moralist whose works expose the corruption and ambition undermining the Republic. Through The Conspiracy of Catiline and The Jugurthine War, he left not only history but enduring reflections on power, greed, and virtue. His voice still speaks to modern readers: republics are fragile, and the real enemy is not foreign armies but the decay within.