Laudator Temporis Acti

Plautus, Trinummus 34-35 (tr. Paul Nixon):

We have a crowd here that gives lots more consideration to currying favour with a certain clique than to our general welfare.

nimioque hic pluris pauciorum gratiam
faciunt pars hominum quam id quod prosint pluribus.

J.H. Gray ad loc.:

34. nimioque pluris, 'value at a higher price by much,' value far more highly (see on v. 28) the favour of the few. Pauciores )( plures οἱ ὀλίγοι, 'the aristocrats,' 'the optimates.' Cf. the complaints of self-seeking v. 1033 ff.

35. faciunt, plur. after pars hominum which implies a number of persons, a common κατὰ σύνεσιν or ad sensum construction.

quam id quod prosint pluribus, 'than they (value) that wherein they may benefit the many.' This, the reading of A, is supported by Shilleto (quoted by Prof. Mayor on Cic. 2 Phil. 21.30, q.v.). Id is acc. after faciunt, quod is the limiting (adverbial) acc. of neut. pron. so common in Plautus, e.g. Curc. 327 sed quod te misi, nihilo sum certior, 'but I am no wiser about what I sent you for,' lit. 'as to what,' Curc. 456 quid hoc quod ad te uenio? 'but what about the business on which I come to you?' So id and ĭdem frequently. Cf. Ouid. Epist. VI.3.4 hoc tamen ipsum debueram scripto certior esse tuo.