An extremely influential and famous man in ancient Rome, Cicero was known as a master of rhetoric and logic, a great public speaker, and a member of the Roman Senate. Cicero wrote extensively on his use of rhetoric, stating that there is no systematic structure or coherence in rhetoric. A book does not make you a good speaker, explained Cicero. Rhetoric must be learned on the job. 

One of the most notable instances of Cicero using his skills of rhetoric and public speaking was his condemnation of Catiline, who had organized a conspiracy against Cicero after both of them ran for consul and Cicero won. Furiously, Catiline led an army outside of Rome attempting to take control. Cicero addressed the Senate and hinted that the recent death of Catiline’s wife was done at the hands of Catiline. Cicero also amplified his financial difficulties and public vices, which invoked the public’s welfare. The speech’s goal was to isolate Catiline, scare him into leaving, persuade the Senate to cut ties with him, avoid taking legal action, and warn Catiline’s supporters that their leader was almost out of money. Cicero’s great skills of persuasion and slander of his opponents were put on display here. By presenting himself as a victim, showing that he was restrained, invoking the Republic’s tradition of execution, and suggesting nefarious schemes, Cicero masterfully used rhetoric to shutout and condemn Catiline. Cicero continued to ridicule Catiline as someone who should be pitied, and undermined Catiline’s supposed subordination to honorable men. In fact, Cicero warned Catiline that he would lose, and called down Jupiter’s wrath saying that banishment will destroy Catiline and his supporters. Cicero never actually brought any formal charges against Catiline and never officially brought action, instead used rhetoric to slander Catiline into ending the revolt, as well as turned Cataline’s own supporters against him. 

Cicero had multiple goals that he achieved: winning over the Senate; persuading Catiline to leave Rome; not gaining the reputation of tyranny; eliminating a threat to the Republic; using multiple rhetorical techniques to make serious-sounding accusations; not bringing formal charges and not starting a trial; presenting himself as restrained and as a victim; invoking gods, the Republic, and tradition; using the Senate’s silence as condemnation; pointing out that Catiline sat alone; embarrassing the Senate for tolerating Catiline; and speaking for the welfare of Rome. Cicero shaped Western rhetoric by not setting forth a coherent system for it, but by using his power of language and tactics as a model of public verbal confrontation.