I think you've actually found a perception of Cicero that is useful. Cicero, personally, was rather a nice man. In spite of his insecurities, he was essentially rather generous, if egocentric. His taste in literature and art was largely excellent, although he was always ready to approve of Greek art more than Roman. His understanding of Greek philosophy was conventional, but his attempts to make Greek thought accessible to Romans was anything but. It was only his judgment and taste concerning human beings with which I took issue. He regularly saw a man, not as he was, but as Cicero wanted him to be. This accounts for his continual flip-flopping about foolish men like Dolabella, and his ambiguous response to me. Not to mention, his ability to complete misunderstand Octavius and to think that, instead, he could use him.

I've always thought he did as much as anyone to make Catiline revolt. Cicero needed that revolt, and needed Catiline to be a villain. He simply beat away at Catiline until he betrayed himself by action he might not otherwise have taken.

Cicero always thought he could use men, but he seldom showed any talent at it.

On the whole, his non-political reputation was far surer.