Cicero's opening speech in the 'Trial of Verres' is focused on the failings of Gaius Verres as he rose up in the Roman political system to the level of governor, and his subsequent attempts to corrupt the court system in order to be acquitted and avoid a legitimate trial. Cicero doesn't attempt to portray Verres' situation as unique, and states that these acts of corruption and provincial malpractice are rampant throughout the Roman political system. …showed first 75 words of 1214 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1214 total…his family and his children. At present ... with the courts as they are, a governor takes enough for himself, and his protectors, and his counsel, and the president of the court, and the judges! In other words, there is no end to it.' This makes governors raise taxes and steal money in order to gain enough for acquittal, but in doing so they are causing themselves to go to court in the first place.