Was Sallust's criticism of Roman corruption fair?
Some might argue that my focus on moral decay exaggerates the role of personal failing in the Republic's troubles. They might point to systemic issues of governance, social stratification, and economic disparities as equal or greater contributors to unrest and instability. While I do not deny the existence of such broader forces, I maintain that the erosion of individual and collective integrity – the pervasive greed and ambition – was the most corrosive agent, undermining the very foundations of Roman society and its institutions. My intent was to diagnose the moral sickness.