Quaestor

After two years of practice, he left Rome to travel in Greece and Asia, taking all the opportunities that offered to study his art under distinguished masters.

He returned to Rome greatly improved in health and in professional skill, and in 76 BC was elected to the office of Quaestor.

He was assigned to the province of Lilybarum in Sicily, and the vigor and justice of his administration earned him the gratitude of the inhabitants.

It was at their request that he undertook in 70 BC the prosecution of Verres, who as Praetor had subjected the Sicilians to incredible extortion and oppression, and his successful conduct of this case, which ended in the conviction and banishment of Verres, may be said to have launched him on his political career.

He locked down the ladder of office as well.

Quaestor at 30, Praetor at 39, Consul at 42.

In that order, with no steps skipped.

and 10 years required before any man could hold the consulship a second time.

Yet that which grows from the wild vigor of nature has the most grateful flavor.

As to myself, if I may allude to my own feelings, the day on which I put on the manly gown, and even the days that followed, when, as a new man at Rome, born in a city that did not favor my pretensions, I rose in succession to the offices of Quaestor, Tribune, and Praetor, those days, I say, did not awaken in my breast such exalted rapture as when, in the course of my profession, I was called forth, with such talents as have fallen to my share, to defend the accused, to argue a question of law before the centumviri, or, in the presence of the prince, to plead for his freedmen and the procurators appointed by himself.

Upon those occasions, I towered above all places of profit and all preferment.

I looked down on the dignities of tribune, praetor, and consul.