It is the nurse that the child first hears, and her words that he will first attempt to imitate.

Of his personal life little is known. Life
Quintilian was born ca. The emperor does not appear to have taken offence; in the year 90 Quintilian was made tutor of Domitian's two grand-nephews and heirs.

In English translation he is usually referred to as Quintilian although the alternate spellings of Quintillian and Quinctilian are occasionally seen the latter in older texts. 35 – c.