Etiam si Cato dicat.

In Rome, if a very improbable tale was told, it was usual to say, «I would not believe it, even though Cato himself should tell it me», thus shewing the reverence paid to the memory of that great statesman and philosopher. The Athenians, who had the same confidence in the integrity of Aristides as the Romans had in Cato, used his name on such occasions. We more commonly say, though an angel should affirm it we would not believe it.