 Cato the Elder, their famous descendant, at the beginning of his career in Rome, was regarded as a "novus homo" (new man), and the feeling of his unsatisfactory position, working along with the belief of his inherent superiority, aggravated and drove his ambition.Early in life, he so far exceeded the previous deeds of his predecessors that he is frequently spoken of not only as the leader, but as the founder of the Porcia gens.His ancestors for three generations had been named Marcus Porcius, and it was said by Plutarch that at first he was known by the additional cognomen "Priscus", but was afterwards called Cato—a word indicating that special practical wisdom that is the result of natural sagacity, combined with the experience of civil and political affairs.