"‘for the Carthaginians choose their magistrates, and particularly the highest of them – their kings [sufetes] and generals – with an eye both to merit and to wealth.’" "Even more interesting is Herodotus’ description of Hamilcar as Carthaginian on his father’s side and Syracusan on his mother’s side, and that he had become leader at Carthage on ‘merit’."

— In our words · Source: Carthage: A New History (Eve MacDonald)