Moving from a republic to an empire meant that it moved from a participatory government into more of an aristocracy. This might have meant that their view of rhetoric has changed to be more like the Greeks to have similar views on Arete.

This change of government could have helped mold their definition of vir bonus to be different. During the republic it may have been someone who was more participatory in government and during the empire it may have been someone who would be more likely to support endevours of the government rather than participate in government

Both Cicero and Quintilian are concerned with writing about vir bonus or , the good man, during a time where Rome is transitioning types of government. For Roman Rhetoricians especially during a time of transition into an empire it was important for them to understand what defined a good man. It was also important to define their moral and civic duties as a citizen in the changing times and to determine what virtues were important to them. Both cicero and quintilian looked at what virtues and how the use of moral judgment in oratory were important. By looking at these things we can see a connection to how their importance can be connected in being a succesful politician in these times in rome during a change of government.