Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Cicero (Roman Philosopher)

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BCE) was a Roman statesman, orator, lawyer, and philosopher. He was a member of the Roman Senate, and a friend and follower of General Pompey the Great, who was Julius Caesar’s nemesis.

Cicero was also one of the most prolific and versatile of Latin orators and authors. He founded a model for Latin prose; his surviving works include speeches, treatises on rhetoric, philosophical works, and letters. Many of his rhetorical devices are still used by public speakers today.

Born in Arpinum (now Arpino,) central Italy, Cicero was educated in Rome and learned rhetoric and oratory in Athens and Rhodes. He worked as a defense lawyer at first and was then elected to serve in the Roman Senate together with Julius Caesar.

Cicero foresaw that Rome was in its final years, threatened by civil wars, and by the régime of Julius Caesar, and the triumvirates that succeeded him. Cicero tried to bolster the Roman Republic by subduing an uprising by Senator Catiline. As a political counsel, Cicero put the conspirators to death at once without giving them the right to a fair trial because he believed that the Republic was in danger. This move earned him many political enemies.

Later, Cicero was left out of the plot to kill Julius Caesar. However, when Cicero defended that murder in the interests of the Republic, he was forced into retirement from public life.

Cicero went on exile and wrote several philosophical works. He was known for his eloquence and incisive written dialogues—notably De Legibus (On the Laws, c.52–43 BCE,) Consolatio (On Grief and Consolation, 45 BCE,) Laelius de Amicitia (Laelius on Friendship, 44 BCE,) De Officiis (On Duties, 44 BCE) and De Natura Deorum (On the Nature of the Gods, 45 BCE.)

In the Philippics (43 BCE,) Cicero attacked Mark Antony, who, later on, had Cicero hunted down and beheaded. When Cicero’s head was taken back to Mark Antony, his wife Fulvia pulled out Cicero’s tongue and stabbed it with her golden hairpins in vengeance against Cicero’s power of speech.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Cicero

All pain is either severe or slight, if slight, it is easily endured; if severe, it will without doubt be brief.
—Cicero
Topics: Pain

The magistrates are the ministers for the laws, the judges their interpreters, the rest of us are servants of the law, that we all may be free.
—Cicero
Topics: Law

The national budget must be balanced. The public debt must be reduced; the arrogance of the authorities must be moderated and controlled. Payments to foreign governments must be reduced. If the nation doesn’t want to go bankrupt, people must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.
—Cicero
Topics: Government

The injuries that befall us unexpectedly are less severe than those which are deliberately anticipated.
—Cicero
Topics: Pain

All things that are pernicious in their progress must be evil in their birth, for no sooner is the government of reason thrown off, than they rush forward to their own accord; weakness takes a pleasure to indulge itself; and having imperceptibly launched out into the main ocean, can find no place where to stop.
—Cicero
Topics: Excess

It is not the place that maketh the person, but the person that maketh the place honorable.
—Cicero
Topics: Man

Great is our admiration of the orator who speaks with fluency and discretion.
—Cicero
Topics: Speaking, Speakers

The foolishness of old age does not characterize all who are old, but only the foolish.
—Cicero
Topics: Age

Glory follows virtue as if it were its shadow.
—Cicero
Topics: Virtue, Fame

In men of the highest character and noblest genius there is to be found an insatiable desire for honor, command, power, and glory.
—Cicero
Topics: Character

To study philosophy is nothing but to prepare one’s self to die.
—Cicero
Topics: Philosophy

It is fortune, not wisdom, that rules man’s life.
—Cicero
Topics: Fortune

We should measure affection, not like youngsters by the ardor of its passion, but by its strength and constancy.
—Cicero
Topics: Love

It is foolish to tear one’s hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness.
—Cicero
Topics: Sadness, Sorrow, Grief, Adversity

Guilt is present in the very hesitation, even though the deed be not committed.
—Cicero
Topics: Guilt

There is something pleasurable in calm remembrance of a past sorrow.
—Cicero
Topics: Sadness, Sorrow

Other relaxations are peculiar to certain times, places, and stages of life, but the study of letters is the nourishment of our youth, and the joy of our old age. They throw an additional splendor on prosperity, and are the resource and consolation of adversity; they delight at home, and are no embarrassment abroad; in short, they are company to us at night, our fellow travelers on a journey, and attendants in our rural recesses.
—Cicero
Topics: Books, Literature

Before beginning, plan carefully.
—Cicero
Topics: Planning, Beginning

A mental stain can neither be blotted out by the passage of time nor washed away by any waters.
—Cicero
Topics: Mind

There is no one so old as to not think they may live a day longer.
—Cicero
Topics: Age

I follow nature as the surest guide, and resign myself, with implicit obedience, to her sacred ordinances.
—Cicero
Topics: Nature

A happy life consists in tranquility of mind.
—Cicero
Topics: Positive Attitudes, Happiness, Optimism

We were born to unite with our fellow men, and to join in community with the human race.
—Cicero
Topics: Community

True law is right reason conformably to nature, universal, unchangeable, eternal, whose commands urge us to duty, and whose prohibitions restrain us from evil.
—Cicero
Topics: Law

Nobody can give you wiser advice than yourself.
—Cicero
Topics: Advice

No well-informed person ever imputed inconsistency to another for changing his mind.
—Cicero
Topics: Consistency

To those who are engaged in commercial dealings, justice is indispensable for the conduct of business.
—Cicero
Topics: Age, Business, Sin

Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is infected by the licentious passions and vices of great men, so it is likewise reformed by their moderation.
—Cicero
Topics: Example, Influence

Man’s best support is a very dear friend.
—Cicero
Topics: Friendship

The harvest of old age is the recollection and abundance of blessing previously secured.
—Cicero
Topics: Abundance, Growth

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