# Marcus Cato — The City of God character guide

> Marcus Cato in The City of God by Augustine of Hippo.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Cato

**First appearance:** 0002-part-i-book-i

## Who they are

Roman statesman and moralist, known for his strict virtue and opposition to luxury.

## In the story

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxiii)

Cato's suicide at Utica is examined; Augustine argues it was an act of weakness or envy, not honor, as shown by his advice to his son.

### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxiv)

Contrasted unfavorably with Regulus; Cato committed suicide to avoid submission to Caesar.

### [The Moral Decay of Rome and the Fear of Security](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxx)

Mentioned as the senator who advised the destruction of Carthage, in contrast to Scipio Nasica's caution.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-vii)

Mentioned as a moral authority whose censure is ignored in favor of Jupiter's example.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-ix)

Mentioned as a figure who would have been caricatured by Caecilius, illustrating the Roman prohibition of stage defamation.

### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xii)

Referenced as a Roman figure whom poets like Caecilius lampooned, illustrating Roman sensitivity to citizen criticism.

### [Book V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-book-v)

Mentioned by Sallust as a man of eminent virtue in the republic.

### [By What Virtues the Ancient Romans Merited That the True God, Although They Did Not Worship Him, Should Enlarge Their Empire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xii)

Roman statesman praised for his virtue and cited for his judgment on the state's condition.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/marcus_cato
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters