Marcus Tullius Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicerowas a Roman philosopher, politician, lawyer, orator, political theorist, consul, and constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the Roman equestrian order, and was one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionStatesman
vices flattery handmaids
Let flattery, the handmaid of the vices, be far removed (from friendship). [Lat., Assentatio, vitiorum adjutrix, procul amoveatur.]
cities looks look-up
Exile is terrible to those who have, as it were, a circumscribed habitation; but not to those who look upon the whole globe but as one city.
men worst-enemy enemy
Man is his own worst enemy. [Lat., Nihil inimicius quam sibi ipse.]
voting ego viva
I am of the opinion which you have always held, that "viva voce" voting at elections is the best method. [Lat., Nam ego in ista sum sententia, qua te fuisse semper scio, nihil ut feurit in suffragiis voce melius.]
education republic youth
What greater or better gift can we offer the republic than to teach and instruct our youth? [Lat., Quod enim munus reiplicae afferre majus, meliusve possumus, quam si docemus atque erudimus juventutem?]
eating
Thou shouldst eat to live; not live to eat. [Lat., Esse oportet ut vivas, non vivere ut edas.]
sea heaven world
I speak of that learning which wakes us acquainted with the boundless extent of nature, and the universe, and which even while we remain in this world, discovers to us both heaven, earth, and sea.
moments duty
There is no moment without some duty.
causes moments diligence
Diligence which, as it avails in all things, is also of the utmost moment in pleading causes. Diligence is to be particularly cultivated by us; it is to be constantly exerted; it is capable of effecting almost everything.
imagination virtue difficult
Virtue and decency are so nearly related that it is difficult to separate them from each other but in our imagination.
men good-man should
I will adhere to the counsels of good men, although misfortune and death should be the consequence.
cities heaven age
The impulse which directs to right conduct, and deters from crime, is not only older than the ages of nations and cities, but coeval with that Divine Being who sees and rules both heaven and earth.
theatre virtue conscience
The great theatre for virtue is conscience.
men flames mind
It is a man's own dishonesty, his crimes, his wickedness, and boldness, that takes away from him soundness of mind; these are the furies, these the flames and firebrands, of the wicked.