> enforcing an up-or-out mentality You win your first election as Quaestor, then you are a senator for life (provided you maintain the minimum property qualifi

> enforcing an up-or-out mentality You win your first election as Quaestor, then you are a senator for life (provided you maintain the minimum property qualification of 2 million sesterces). But to win higher magistracies, there are fewer offices and the competition is more intense. Not exactly up-or-out, but I see what you mean. Especially in an honor-based society, no one wanted to be the perpetually junior senator. But yes, you would not find the same person monopolizing a magistracy for 40 years.