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
It shows a brave and resolute spirit not to be agitated in exciting circumstances.
—Cicero
Topics: Courage, Bravery
The precept, “Know yourself,” was not solely intended to obviate the pride of mankind; but likewise that we might understand our own worth.
—Cicero
Topics: Self-Knowledge, Awareness
To add a library to a house is to give that house a soul.
—Cicero
Topics: Books
We should measure affection, not like youngsters by the ardor of its passion, but by its strength and constancy.
—Cicero
Topics: Love
No grief is so acute but that time ameliorates it.
—Cicero
Topics: Grief
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
There are more men ennobled by study than by nature.
—Cicero
Topics: Study, Learning
As I give thought to the matter, I find four causes for the apparent misery of old age; first, it withdraws us from active accomplishments; second, it renders the body less powerful; third, it deprives us of almost all forms of enjoyment; fourth, it stands not far from death.
—Cicero
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
Can there be greater foolishness than the respect you pay to people collectively when you despise them individually?
—Cicero
Topics: Sincerity
There is wickedness in the intention of wickedness, even though it be not perpetrated in the act.
—Cicero
Topics: Guilt, Wickedness, Evil
Loyalty is what we seek in friendship.
—Cicero
Topics: Friendship
Old age, especially an honored old age, has so great authority that this is of more value than all the pleasures of youth.
—Cicero
Topics: Age, Old Age
It is difficult to set bounds to the price unless you first set bounds to the wish.
—Cicero
Topics: Wealth
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
If you aspire to the highest place, it is no disgrace to stop at the second, or even the third, place.
—Cicero
Topics: Realistic Expectations, Acceptance, Defects, Ambition, Goals
What then is freedom? The power to live as one wishes.
—Cicero
Topics: Wishes, One liners
The mansion should not be graced by its master, the master should grace the mansion.
—Cicero
Topics: Confidence
Peace is liberty in tranquillity.
—Cicero
Topics: Liberty
The countenance is the portrait of the soul, and the eyes mark its intentions.
—Cicero
Topics: Soul
Nothing is so strongly fortified that it cannot be taken by money.
—Cicero
Topics: Gifts
It is pleasant to recall past troubles.
—Cicero
Topics: Trouble
I prefer tongue-tied knowledge to ignorant loquacity.
—Cicero
Topics: Conversation
A knowledge of the laws of our country is an highly useful, and I had almost said essential part of liberal and polite education.
—Cicero
Topics: Law
To stumble twice against the same stone is a Proverbial disgrace.
—Cicero
Topics: Mistakes, Failures
Study carefully, the character of the one you recommend, lest their misconduct bring you shame.
—Cicero
Topics: Shame
A sensual and intemperate youth translates into an old worn-out body.
—Cicero
Topics: Youth
Nothing is more intolerable than a prosperous fool; and hence we see men who, at one time, were affable and agreeable, completely changed by prosperity, despising old friends and clinging to new.
—Cicero
Topics: Fools
He cannot be strict in judging, who does not wish others to be strict judges of himself.
—Cicero
Topics: Criticism, Critics
Friendship is nothing else than an accord in all things, human and divine, conjoined with mutual good-will and affection.
—Cicero
Topics: Friendship
Memory is the receptacle and sheath of all knowledge.
—Cicero
Topics: Memory
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.
—Cicero
Topics: Gratitude, Thankfulness, Appreciation, Blessings
He is guilty of impertinence who considers not the circumstances of time, or engrosses the conversation, or makes himself the subject of his discourse, or pays no regard to the company he is in.
—Cicero
Orators are most vehement when they have the weakest cause, as men get on horseback when they cannot walk.
—Cicero
Topics: Speakers, Power
If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started.
—Cicero
Topics: Confidence, Self Confidence
The injuries that befall us unexpectedly are less severe than those which are deliberately anticipated.
—Cicero
Topics: Pain
As you have sown so shall you reap.
—Cicero
Topics: Results
Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things.
—Cicero
Topics: Memory
As if anything were so common as ignorance! The multitude of fools is a protection to the wise.
—Cicero
Topics: Ignorance
Not to know what has been transacted in former times is to be always a child. If no use is made of the labors of past ages, the world must remain always in the infancy of knowledge.
—Cicero
Topics: History
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