Laudator Temporis Acti

Pliny, Letters 7.29 (to Montanus; on the grave monument of Marcus Antonius Pallas, freedman and minister of the Emperor Claudius; tr. Betty Radice):

[1] You will think it a joke — or an outrage, but a joke after all — if you read this, which has to be seen to be believed. [2] On the road to Tibur, less than a mile from Rome, as I noticed the other day, there is a monument to Pallas with the following inscription: 'To him the Senate decreed in return for his loyal services to his patrons, the insignia of a praetor, and the sum of fifteen million sesterces, but he thought fit to accept the distinction only.' [3] Personally I have never thought much of these honours whose distribution depends on chance rather than on a reasoned decision, but this inscription more than anything makes me realize what a ridiculous farce it is when they can be thrown away on such dirt and filth, and that rascal could presume to accept and refuse them, all with a show of setting posterity an example of moderation. [4] But it isn't worth my indignation; better to laugh, or such people will think they have really achieved something when their lucky chance has brought them no more than ridicule.

[1] Ridebis, deinde indignaberis, deinde ridebis, si legeris, quod nisi legeris, non potes credere. [2] est via Tiburtina intra primum lapidem (proxime adnotavi) monimentum Pallantis ita inscriptum: 'Huic senatus ob fidem pietatemque erga patronos ornamenta praetoria decrevit et sestertium centies quinquagies, cuius honore contentus fuit.' [3] equidem numquam sum miratus quae saepius a fortuna quam a iudicio proficiscerentur; maxime tamen hic me titulus admonuit, quam essent mimica et inepta, quae interdum in hoc caenum, in has sordes abicerentur, quae denique ille furcifer et recipere ausus est et recusare, atque etiam ut moderationis exemplum posteris prodere. [4] sed quid indignor? ridere satius, ne se magnum aliquid adeptos putent, qui huc felicitate perveniunt ut rideantur. vale.

8.6 is another letter on the same topic. See James McNamara, "Pliny, Tacitus and the Monuments of Pallas," Classical Quarterly 71.1 (2021) 308-329.