# CHAPTER 47 — That a Good Citizen Ought to Forget Private Injuries for Love of His Country

Marcius the consul was with the army against the Samnites, and when he was wounded in a skirmish and constituted a danger to his troops, the senate decided it was necessary to send Papirius Cursor as dictator to make up for the weakness of the consul. Since it was necessary for a dictator to be nominated by Fabius, who was consul with the armies in Etruria, the senators, fearing that Fabius would not be willing to nominate Papirius, who was his enemy, sent two ambassadors to beg him to put aside private hatreds and to name him for the public good. This Fabius did, moved by love for his native city, even though, through his silence and in many other ways, he indicated that such a nomination weighed heavily upon him. All those who seek to be considered good citizens should follow this example. *