It's one of the privileges of being new in the job that he could speak bluntly.

BBC: Following the money - and wincing

" Quintus knew that the odds were against his brother: "To speak bluntly, since you are seeking the most important position in Rome and since you have so many potential enemies, you can't afford to make any mistakes.

WSJ: Cicero, Dirty Tricks and the American Way of Campaigning