Famous Quotes by Cicero
Below are some of the most notable quotes from the philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero:
- Humanity continues to make six fundamental mistakes repeatedly throughout the centuries: believing that personal gains can be achieved by undermining others, neglecting the cultivation and refinement of the mind, worrying about matters that cannot be changed or corrected, refusing to set aside trivial preferences, insisting something is impossible simply because we cannot achieve it, and attempting to compel others to believe and live as we do.
- Nothing is nobler or more commendable than fidelity; loyalty and truth are the most sacred gifts of the human intellect.
- The enemy lies within the gates; it is our own indulgences, foolishness, and crimes that we must confront.
- Friendship enhances happiness and diminishes misery by multiplying our joy and dividing our sorrow.
- A nation can survive fools and even ambition, but it cannot withstand betrayal from within. An external enemy is, at least, open and known, bearing their standard publicly; however, the traitor moves freely among those inside the gates, spreading their insidious whispers through the streets, infiltrating the very halls of government.
- Do not blame Caesar; blame the Romans who exalted him, worshipped him passionately, rejoiced in the loss of their freedom, celebrated his path, and bestowed upon him grand triumphal processions.
- Read in every moment of waiting, read at all times, during leisure and labor alike. Engage with reading as one engages with a single task; the purpose of the educated mind is simple: read to lead.
- What sweetness remains in life if friendship is taken away? The theft of a friend is akin to the sun being stolen from the world; true friendship deserves more recognition than even that of family.
- While freedom is articulated by law, vigilance is essential; for the chains of bondage can always lurk beneath the guise of that very freedom. Our constitution speaks of the “general welfare of the people,” a phrase that can be manipulated by tyrants to enslave us.
- There is but one fundamental justice that underpins society, and one law that establishes this justice: the right reason. This law serves as the true foundation for all commandments and prohibitions; anyone who disregards this law, whether written or unwritten, is inevitably unjust and wicked.
- Let us not heed those who suggest we should bear grievances towards our enemies, believing that such feelings are admirable or manly. There is nothing praiseworthy or indicative of a noble spirit like compassion and the willingness to forgive.
- People often fail to appreciate the value of what they possess until it is gone. Freedom, once lost and reclaimed through struggles, is appreciated far more than freedom that has never been threatened. Cherish and safeguard your freedom before it slips away, and make the most of it.
- Great achievements are not realized through physical strength, speed, or skill but through thought, character, and judgment.