hoc illud est praecipue in cognitione rerum salubre ac frugiferum, omnis te exempli documenta in inlustri posita monumento intueri: inde tibi tuaequae rei publicae quod imitere capias, inde foedum inceptu, foedum exitu, quod vites — ‘Here in acquiring knowledge of history it is particularly salutary and fruitful, for you to behold lessons of every type as if laid out on a brilliant memorial: from that you may make use for yourself and your republic what to copy, from that you may shun that which is detestable in the beginning, and detestable in the conclusion.’ — Livy ab urbe condita 1, praefectus.10.