"For it would have been better that man should have been born dumb, nay, void of all reason, rather than that he should employ the gifts of Providence to the destruction of his neighbor"

This quote by Quintilian talks to the idea that it would have been better for human beings to have never been given the present of factor, instead of to utilize it to trigger damage to others. He is suggesting that it would have been better for human beings to have been born without the capacity for reason, as it is this capability that has enabled us to trigger damage to our fellow male. He is suggesting that the use of factor has been a double-edged sword, as it has actually enabled us to create terrific things, however also to cause excellent damage. He is suggesting that it would have been better for us to have actually never been offered the present of reason, as it has been used to cause a lot harm. He is cautioning us to be mindful of how we utilize our factor, and to use it for good, rather than for damage.