Via Tiburtina and lived there the rest of his days, intervening little in public affairs. Cicero dubiously reports a rumour that Quintus Varius, the populist tribune of the plebs for 91 BC, ultimately poisoned Metellus – presumably Metellus Numidicus. Quotes by Metellus To do harm is proper of the evil spirits; to do good without taking risks is proper of the ordinary spirits; the man of heart never ever deflects from what is fair and honest, never looking to rewards or to threats. All men should not covet all things. If it would have been possible for us to suffer without a wife, Romans, we all would have been without this annoyance; But since nature has thus ordained so that it is not possible to live comfortably enough with them, nor can we live in any way without them (sometimes truncated to: "Women; can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em). Latin: "Si sine uxore pati possemus, Quirites, omnes ea molestia careremus; Set quoniam ita natura tradidit, ut nec cum illis satis commode, nec sine illis ullo modo vivi possit" See also Caecilia gens Notes References Ancientworlds.net 160s BC births 91 BC deaths 2nd-century BC Roman consuls 1st-century BC Romans Ancient Roman exiles Numidicus, Quintus Optimates Roman censors Roman-era students in Athens Roman Republican praetors Year of birth uncertain