Marcus Tullius Cicero Quotes & Sayings

In the very books in which philosophers bid us scorn fame, they inscribe their names. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

There is nothing so charming as the knowledge of literature; of that branch of literature, I mean, which enables us to discover the infinity of things, the immensity of Nature, the heavens, the earth, and the seas; this is that branch which has taught us religion, moderation, magnanimity, and that has rescued the soul from obscurity; to make her see all things above and below, first and last, and between both; it is this that furnishes us wherewith to live well and happily, and guides us to pass our lives without displeasure and without offence. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Books are the food of youth, the delight of old age; the ornament of prosperity, the refuge and comfort of adversity; a delight at home, and no hindrance abroad; companions by night, in traveling, in the country. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

We do not destroy religion by destroying superstition. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Slowly and imperceptibly old age comes creeping on. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

For he, indeed, who looks into the face of a friend beholds, as it were, a copy of himself. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

The counsels of the Divine Mind had some glimpse of truth when they said that men are born in order to suffer the penalty for sins committed in a former life. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Salus populi suprema est lex [the good of the people is the chief law]. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Men, in whatever anxiety they may be, if they are men, sometimes indulge in relaxation. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Friendship is infinitely better than kindness. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

No one dances sober, unless he is insane. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

The law is silent during war.
[Lat., Silent leges inter arma.] — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Art is born of the observation and investigation of nature. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

To live is to think. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Nothing is so strongly fortified that it cannot be taken by money. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

We are obliged to respect, defend and maintain the common bonds of union and fellowship that exist among all members of the human race. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

How can life be worth living, to use the words of Ennius, which lacks that repose which is to be found in the mutual good-will of a friend? What can be more delightful than to have some one to whom you can say everything with the same absolute confidence as to yourself? Is not prosperity robbed of half its value if you have no one to share your joy? On the other hand, misfortunes would be hard to bear if there were not some one to feel them even more acutely than yourself. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

They who say that we should love our fellow-citizens but not foreigners, destroy the universal brotherhood of mankind, with which benevolence and justice would perish forever — Marcus Tullius Cicero

A tear dries quickly when it is shed for troubles of others. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Inability to tell good from evil is the greatest worry of man's life. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Life without learning is death. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Nemo enim est tam senex qui se annum non putet posse vivere.
(No one is so old as to think that he cannot live one more year.) — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Thrift is of great revenue. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

We must stand up against old age and make up for its drawbacks by taking pains. We must fight it as we should an illness. We must look after our health, use moderate exercise, take just enough food and drink to recruit, but not to overload, our strength. Nor is it the body alone that must be supported, but the intellect and soul much more. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

The multitude of fools is a protection to the wise. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Now in regard to trades and other means of livelihood, which ones are to be considered becoming to a gentleman and which ones are vulgar, we have been taught, in general, as follows. First, those means of livelihood are rejected as undesirable which incur people's ill-will, as those of tax-gatherers and usurers. Unbecoming to a gentleman, too, and vulgar are the means of livelihood of all hired workmen whom we pay for mere manual labour, not for artistic skill; for in their case the very wage they receive is a pledge of their slavery. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

What fervent love of herself would Virtue excite if she could be seen! — Marcus Tullius Cicero

There is, I know not how, a certain presage, as it were, of a future existence; and this takes the deepest root, and is most discoverable, in the greatest geniuses and most exalted souls. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

The life given us, by nature is short; but the memory of a well-spent life is eternal. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

True glory strikes root, and even extends itself; all false pretensions fall as do flowers, nor can any feigned thing be lasting. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

It is exercise alone that supports the spirits, and keeps the mind in vigor. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

There are some duties we owe even to those who have wronged us. There is, after all, a limit to retribution and punishment. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

The only excuse for war is that we may live in peace unharmed. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

My dear Scipio and Laelius. Men, of course, who have no resources in themselves for securing a good and happy life find every age burdensome. But those who look for all happiness from within can never think anything bad which Nature makes inevitable. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

The rule of friendship means there should be mutual sympathy between them, each supplying what the other lacks and trying to benefit the other, always using friendly and sincere words. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Let the punishment match the offense. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

He is an eloquent man who can treat humble subjects with delicacy, lofty things impressively, and moderate things temperately. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Mental stains can not be removed by time, nor washed away by any waters.
[Lat., Animi labes nec diuturnitate vanescere nec omnibus ullis elui potest.] — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Friends, though absent, are still present. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Friendship makes prosperity brighter, while it lightens adversity by sharing its griefs and anxieties.
[Lat., Secundas res splendidiores facit amicitia, et adversas partiens communicansque leviores.] — Marcus Tullius Cicero

What an ugly beast is the ape, and how like us. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

It is a common saying that many pecks of salt must be eaten before the duties of friendship can be discharged.
[Lat., Vulgo dicitur multos modios salis simul edendos esse, ut amicitia munus expletum sit.] — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Lucius Cassius ille quem populus Romanus verissimum et sapientissimum iudicem putabat identidem in causis quaerere solebat 'cui bono' fuisset.
The famous Lucius Cassius, whom the Roman people used to regard as a very honest and wise judge, was in the habit of asking, time and again, 'To whose benefit? — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Nature has circumscribed the field of life within small dimensions, but has left the field of glory unmeasured. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Softly! Softly! I want none but the judges to hear me. The Jews have already gotten me into a fine mess, as they have many other gentleman. I have no desire to furnish further grist for their mills. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

We must not only obtain Wisdom: we must enjoy her. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Hatred is settled anger. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

The master sometimes serves, and the servant sometimes is master. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

The first bond of society is the marriage tie; the next our children; then the whole family of our house, and all things in common. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

It is a shameful thing to be weary of inquiry when what we search for is excellent. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Anyone who has got a book collection/library and a garden wants for nothing. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Can you also, Lucullus, affirm that there is any power united with wisdom and prudence which has made, or, to use your own expression, manufactured man? What sort of a manufacture is that? Where is it exercised? when? why? how? — Marcus Tullius Cicero

The long time to come when I shall not exist has more effect on me than this short present time, which nevertheless seems endless. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Read at every wait; read at all hours; read within leisure; read in times of labor; read as one goes in; read as one goest out. The task of the educated mind is simply put: read to lead. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

I cheerfully quit from life as if it were an inn, not a home; for Nature has given us a hostelry in which to sojourn, not to abide. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother. Thank you for my laughter. Thank you for my friend. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

It is better to receive than to do injury. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

If the truth were self-evident, eloquence would be unnecessary. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

A man of faith is also full of courage — Marcus Tullius Cicero

People don't know the value of what they have until it is gone: Freedom suppressed and again regained bites with keener fangs than freedom never endangered ... Liberty is rendered even more precious by the recollection of servitude. Don't wait till freedom is gone before you enjoy, value, support, protect and make the most of it! — Marcus Tullius Cicero

He who has a garden and a library wants for nothing. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Dissimulation creeps gradually into the minds of men. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Nature herself makes the wise man rich. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Freedom is a possession of inestimable value. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Whatever is graceful is virtuous, and whatever is virtuous is graceful. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Every generous action loves the public view; yet no theatre for virtue is equal to a consciousness of it. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

In anger nothing right nor judicious can be done. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

They are eloquent who can speak low things acutely, and of great things with dignity, and of moderate things with temper. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

We forget our pleasures, we remember our sufferings. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Victory is by nature insolent and haughty. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

No one was ever great without some portion of divine inspiration. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Each part of life has its own pleasures. Each has its own abundant harvest, to be garnered in season. We may grow old in body, but we need never grow old in mind and spirit. No one is as old as to think he or she cannot live one more year. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

The best interpreter of the law is custom. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

If you wish to remove avarice you must remove its mother, luxuries.
[Lat., Avaritiam si tollere vultis, mater ejus est tollenda, luxuries.] — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Nothing is more disgraceful than insincerity. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Nor am I ashamed, as some are, to confess my ignorance of those matters with which I am unacquainted. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Friendship is not to be sought for its wages, but because its revenue consists entirely in the love which it implies. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

He who has once deviated from the truth, usually commits perjury with as little scruple as he would tell a lie.
[Lat., Qui semel a veritate deflexit, hic non majore religione ad perjurium quam ad mendacium perduci consuevit.] — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Unraveling the web of Penelope. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

It is foolish to tear one's hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

In everything, satiety closely follows the greatest pleasures. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Judge not by the number, but by the weight. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

In a disturbed mind, as in a body in the same state, health can not exist. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Our minds are rendered buoyant by exercise. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

The illustrious and noble ought to place before them certain rules and regulations, not less for their hours of leisure and relaxation than for those of business. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Like readily consorts with like. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Opinionum enim commenta delet dies; naturae judicia confirmat.
Time destroys the groundless conceits of men; it confirms decisions founded on reality. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

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

It is not a virtue, but a deceptive copy and imitation of virtue, when we are led to the performance of duty by pleasure as its recompense. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Freedom is participation in power. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

I shall always consider the best guesser the best prophet. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Favours out of place I regard as positive injuries. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Time puts an end to speculation in opinions, and confirms the laws of nature. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

History is indeed the witness of the times, the light of truth. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Peace is freedom in tranquility. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

A man has no worse enemy than himself. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

For what people have always sought is equality before the law. For rights that were not open to all alike would be no rights. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Apollo, sacred guard of earth's true core, Whence first came frenzied, wild prophetic word ... — Marcus Tullius Cicero

The eyes, like sentinels, hold the highest place in the body.
[Lat., Oculi, tanquam, speculatores, altissimum locum obtinent.] — Marcus Tullius Cicero