Consequently the student who is devoid of talent will derive no more profit from this work than barren soil from a treatise on agriculture.

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.