Towards the end of the 150s, Corculum clashed with the other champion of Roman morality—Cato the Censor—over the war against Carthage. Their rivalry started after Cato visited Africa in 153 as member of an embassy sent to arbiter between Massinissa and Carthage, since the former encroached on the lands of the latter. Cato was impressed by the prosperity of the Punic city and noticed that it had "lots of timber", which could be used to build ships (in order to make war against Rome). From this point on, Cato advocated the destruction of Carthage, and concluded all his speeches on any subject with the famous word "Carthage must be destroyed" ("Carthago delenda est").