Roman Politics

I am reading a book on the history of Republican Rome and came across this quote from a speech Cato the Elder was giving to his fellow citizens on the perils of demagogues:

"The Roman people are like sheep: you cannot budge one of them on its own, but when they are in a flock they all follow their leaders as in a single body. In the same way, when you come together in the Assembly you allow yourselves to be led by men whose advice you would never think of following in your private affairs."

Kind of reminds me of today's political parties.