He only seems to me to live, and to make proper use of life, who sets himself some serious work to do, and seeks the credit of a task well and skillfully performed.

"The Conspiracy of Catiline" reflects many features of style that were developed in his later works. Its true value lies in the introduction of Marius and Sulla to the Roman political scene and the beginning of their rivalry. He took as his model Thucydides whom he imitated in his truthfulness and impartiality in the introduction of philosophizing reflections and speeches and in the brevity of his style sometimes bordering upon obscurity.

Sallust was born at Amiternum in the country of the Sabines and was a popularis opposer of the old Roman aristocracy throughout his career and later a partisan of Julius Caesar. Sallust was primarily influenced by the Greek historian Thucydides and amassed great (and ill-gotten) wealth from his governorship of Africa. Sergius Catilina) The Jugurthine War (about Rome's war against the Numidians from 111 to 105 BC) and the Histories (of which only fragments survive).