Popular displeasure

Plutarch: Lives of the noble Grecians and Romans primary

Plutarch repeats that God governs by persuasive reason rather than force, then turns to Cato the Younger as an example of virtue that displeases the people yet ultimately helps the commonwealth survive.

and most harmonious. For thus we are taught even God governs the world, not by irresistible force, but persuasive argument and reason, controlling it into compliance with his eternal purposes. Cato the younger is a similar instance. His manners were little agreeable or acceptable to the people, and he received very slender marks of their favor; witness his repulse when he sued for the consulship, which he lost, as …