A community is like the ones who govern it.
—Cicero
Topics: Leadership, Influence
To study philosophy is nothing but to prepare one’s self to die.
—Cicero
Topics: Philosophy
The beginnings of all things are small.
—Cicero
Topics: Beginning
Whatever is done without ostentation, and without the people being witnesses of it, is, in my opinion, most praiseworthy: not that the public eye should be entirely avoided, for good actions desire to be placed in the light; but notwithstanding this, the greatest theater for virtue is conscience.
—Cicero
Topics: Confidence, Self-trust, Conscience, Vanity, Miscellaneous
So near is falsehood to truth that a wise man would do well not to trust himself on the narrow edge.
—Cicero
Topics: Lies, Deception/Lying
Care should be taken that the punishment does not exceed the guilt; and also that some men do not suffer for offenses for which others are not even indicted.
—Cicero
Topics: Guilt
All great men are in some degree inspired.
—Cicero
Topics: Men
There is in superstition a senseless fear of God.
—Cicero
Topics: Superstition
What then is freedom? The power to live as one wishes.
—Cicero
Topics: One liners, Wishes
People do not understand what a great revenue economy is.
—Cicero
Topics: Economy, Economics
The good of the people is the greatest law.
—Cicero
Topics: Law
Give me a young man in whom there is something of the old,
and an old man in whom there is something of the young.
Guided so, a man may grow old in body, but never in mind.
—Cicero
Topics: Aging
The way to avoid the imputation of impudence is, not to be ashamed of what we do, but never to do what we ought to be ashamed of.
—Cicero
I add this, that rational ability without education has more often raised a man to glory and virtue, than education without natural ability.
—Cicero
Topics: Ability, Education, Virtue
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
The aim of justice is to give everyone his due.
—Cicero
Topics: Justice
For every man’s nature is concealed with many folds of disguise, and covered as it were with various veils. His brows, his eyes, and very often his countenance, are deceitful, and his speech is most commonly a lie.
—Cicero
Topics: Hypocrisy
I follow nature as the surest guide, and resign myself, with implicit obedience, to her sacred ordinances.
—Cicero
Topics: Nature
Man’s best support is a very dear friend.
—Cicero
Topics: Friendship
Justice consists in doing no injury to men; decency in giving them no offense.
—Cicero
Topics: Justice
We are motivated by a keen desire for praise, and the better a man is the more he is inspired by glory. The very philosophers themselves, even in those books which they write in contempt of glory, inscribe their names.
—Cicero
Topics: Desire, Praise, Inspiration, Motivation
There are more men ennobled by study than by nature.
—Cicero
Topics: Study, Learning
The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.
—Cicero
Topics: Welfare
Genius is fostered by industry.
—Cicero
Topics: Genius
A man of courage is also full of faith.
—Cicero
Topics: Faith, Virtues, Courage, Bravery
Can there be greater foolishness than the respect you pay to people collectively when you despise them individually?
—Cicero
Topics: Sincerity
There is something in the nature of things which the mind of man, which reason, which human power cannpt effect, and certainly that which produces this must be better than man. What can this be but God?
—Cicero
Topics: God
A person who is wise does nothing against their will, nothing with sighing or under coercion.
—Cicero
Topics: Will Power, Willpower, Will
There are more men ennobled by study than by nature.
—Cicero
Topics: Study, Learning
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
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Lucretius Roman Epicurean Philosopher
- Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) Roman Stoic Philosopher
- Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) Roman Poet
- Virgil Roman Poet
- Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) Roman Poet
- Quintilian Roman Rhetorician, Literary Critic
- Seneca the Elder (Marcus Annaeus Seneca) Roman Rhetorician
- Pliny the Younger Roman Senator, Writer
- Catullus Roman Latin Poet
- Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) Roman Statesman
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