For it would have been better that man should have been born dumb, nay, void of all reason, rather than that he should employ the gifts of Providence to the destruction of his neighbor.

Of his personal life little is known. Life
Quintilian was born ca. The emperor does not appear to have taken offence; in the year 90 Quintilian was made tutor of Domitian's two grand-nephews and heirs.

In English translation he is usually referred to as Quintilian although the alternate spellings of Quintillian and Quinctilian are occasionally seen the latter in older texts. 35 – c.