How did Horace’s satires differ from the harsher satire of Lucilius?

While Gaius Lucilius established the genre of satire by using it as a tool for fearless, public criticism and "flaying" his targets, Horace adopted a more tempered approach.12

Horace viewed Lucilius as an "uncouth versifier" and recognized that his own nature was to laugh rather than to attack. Consequently, Horace’s satires differed from those of Lucilius in the following ways:2

• Tone: Horace preferred humor and gentle irony over the harsh, biting denunciations characteristic of Lucilian satire.2
• Targets: While Lucilius fearlessly criticized prominent public and private figures, Horace’s targets were typically insignificant or already deceased, avoiding the direct, aggressive confrontation favored by his predecessor.2
• Focus: Horace shifted the emphasis toward self-revelation and personal reflection, a quality he came to appreciate as the true strength of Lucilius’s work, rather than the mere act of denunciation.2

Although Horace began his career writing in the Lucilian manner, he ultimately refined the genre by blending moral observation with a more conversational, introspective style.2