Cato fought corruption recklessly, and seldom let the sun set without having made new enemies. Few loved him, for his scar-covered face and wild red hair disconcerted them, his big teeth threatened them, his asceticism shamed them, his industry left them lagging, his green eyes looked through their words into their selfishness. … He expelled Manilius for kissing his wife in public; as for himself, he said, he never embraced his wife except when it thundered–though he was glad when it thundered. … After five years of heroic opposition to the nature of man, he retired from office, made successful investments, manned his now vast farm with slaves, lent money at usurious rates, bought slaves cheap and–after training them in some skill–sold them dear, and became so rich that he could afford to write books–an occupation he despised.

—Caesar and Christ, by Will Durant, p. 104