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