Marcus Tullius Cicero Best Quotes & Sayings

Fortune, not wisdom, rules lives. — 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

Men think they may justly do that for which they have a precedent. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

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.] — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Any man may make a mistake; none but a fool will stick to it. Second thoughts are best as the proverb says.
[Lat., Cujusvis hominis est errare; nullius, nisi insipientis, in errore perseverae. Posteriores enim cogitationes (ut aiunt) sapientiores solent esse.] — Marcus Tullius Cicero

I hear Socrates saying that the best seasoning for food is hunger; for drink, thirst. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

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

There never was a great soul that did not have some divine inspiration. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

The name of peace is sweet, the thing itself is most salutary. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

What is sweeter than lettered ease? — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Friendship is the only point in human affairs concerning the benefit of which all, with one voice, agree. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

If we are not ashamed to think it, we should not be ashamed to say it. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

I never admire another's fortune so much that I became dissatisfied with my own. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

There has never been a poet or orator who thought another better than himself. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Anger should never appear in awarding punishment. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Just as the soul fills the body, so God fills the world. Just as the soul bears the body, so God endures the world. Just as the soul sees but is not seen, so God sees but is not seen. Just as the soul feeds the body, so God gives food to the world. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

There is also a tradition about Socrates. He liked walking, it is recorded, until a late hour of the evening, and when someone asked him why he did this he said he was trying to work up an appetite for his dinner. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Let a man practice the profession which he best knows. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

All the arts of refinement have mutual kinship. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Hatred is a settled anger. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

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

Learning is a kind of natural food for the mind. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

The pursuit, even of the best things, ought to be calm and tranquil. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

We must conceive of this whole universe as one commonwealth of which both gods and men are members. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

There is no fortune so strong that money cannot take it. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

For he (Cato) gives his opinion as if he were in Plato's Republic, not in Romulus' cesspool. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Thou knowest how numerous this tribe is, how united and how powerful in the assemblies. I will plead in a low voice so that only the judges may hear, for instigators are not lacking to stir up the crowd against me, and against all the best citizens. To scorn, in the interest of the Republic, this multitude of Jews so often turbulent in the assemblies shows a singular strength of mind. The money is in the Treasury; they do not accuse us of theft; they seek to stir up hatreds ... — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Man's best support is a very dear friend. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

A letter does not blush. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Justice extorts no reward, no kind of price; she is sought, therefore, for her own sake. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Silent enim leges inter arma (Laws are silent in times of war). — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Let every man practice the art that he knows best. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

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

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

Nothing dries sooner than a tear. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Politeness and an affable address are our best introduction. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

I do not now so much as wish to have the Strength of Youth again that I wish'd in Youth for the Strength of an Ox or Elephant. For it is our Business only to make the best Use we can of the Powers granted us by Nature. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

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

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

Let every man practise the trade which he best understands. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

The best Armour of Old Age is a well spent life preceding it; a Life employed in the Pursuit of useful Knowledge, in honourable Actions and the Practice of Virtue; in which he who labours to improve himself from his Youth, will in Age reap the happiest Fruits of them; not only because these never leave a Man, not even in the extremest Old Age; but because a Conscience bearing Witness that our Life was well-spent, together with the Remembrance of past good Actions, yields an unspeakable Comfort to the Soul — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Brevity is the best recommendation of speech, whether in a senator or an orator. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Thus in the beginning the world was so made that certain signs come before certain events. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

It is difficult to tell how much men's minds are conciliated by a kind manner and gentle speech. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Of this last kind of comparisons is that quoted from the elder Cato, who, when asked what was the most profitable thing to be done on an estate, replied, "To feed cattle well." "What second best?" "To feed cattle moderately well." "What third best?" "To feed cattle, though but poorly." "What fourth best?" "To plough the land." And when he who had made these inquiries asked, "What is to be said of making profit by usury?" Cato replied, "What is to be said of making profit by murder? — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Justice is the crowning glory of the virtues. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

I prefer the wisdom of the uneducated to the folly of the loquacious. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

The world has not yet learned the riches of frugality. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

If we lose affection and kindliness from our life: we lose all that gives it charm. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

It might be pardonable to refuse to defend some men, but to defend them negligently is nothing short of criminal. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Of evils one should choose the least.
[Lat., Ex malis eligere minima oportere.] — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Never injure a friend, even in jest. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

What sweetness is left in life, if you take away friendship? Robbing life of friendship is like robbing the world of the sun. A true friend is more to be esteemed than kinsfolk. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Confidence is that feeling by which the mind embarks in great and honorable courses with a sure hope and trust in itself. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Friendship is given us by nature, not to favor vice, but to aid virtue. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Every one is least known to himself, and it is very difficult for a man to know himself. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Exercise and temperance can preserve something of our early strength even in old age. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Neither can embellishments of language be found without arrangement and expression of thoughts, nor can thoughts be made to shine without the light of language. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

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. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Virtue is increased by the smile of approval; and the love of renown is the greatest incentive to honourable acts. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Just as apples when unripe are torn from trees, but when ripe and mellow drop down, so it is violence that takes life from young men, ripeness from old. This ripeness is so delightful to me that, as I approach nearer to death, I seem, as it were, to be sighting land, and to be coming to port at last after a long voyage. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Orators are most vehement when they have the weakest cause, as men get on horseback when they cannot walk. — Marcus Tullius Cicero