Marcus Tullius Cicero Quotes

From all sides there is equally a way to the lower world.

There is no praise in being upright, where no one can, or tries to corrupt you.

In the approach to virtue there are many steps.

Nothing quite new is perfect.

Were floods of tears to be unloosed In tribute to my grief, The doves of Noah ne'er had roost Nor found an olive-leaf.

As thou sowest, so shalt thou reap.

Death is dreadful to the man whose all is extinguished with his life; but not to him whose glory never can die.

Prudence must not be expected from a man who is never sober. [Lat., Non est ab homine nunquam sobrio postulanda prudentia.]

The comfort derived from the misery of others is slight.

He who obeys with modesty appears worthy of being some day a commander.

To some extent I liken slavery to death.

The false is nothing but an imitation of the true.

Man was born for two things--thinking and acting.

We study history not to be clever in another time, but to be wise always.

Nature has granted the use of life like a loan, without fixing any day for repayment.

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.

There is sufficient reward in the mere consciousness of a good action.

The house should derive dignity from the master, not the master from the house.

I remember the very thing that I do not wish to; I cannot forget the things I wish to forget.

The gods attend to great matters, they neglect small ones.

A person who is wise does nothing against their will, nothing with sighing or under coercion.

Whatever befalls in accordance with nature should be accounted good.

As in the case of wines that improve with age, the oldest friendships ought to be the most delightful.

Men ought to be most annoyed by the sufferings which come from their own faults.

It is of no avail to know what is about to happen; for it is a sad thing to be grieved when grief can do no good.

O philosophy, you leader of life.

Let us drink for the replenishment of our strength, not for our sorrow

Can there be greater foolishness than the respect you pay to people collectively when you despise them individually?

To give and receive advice - the former with freedom, and yet without bitterness, the latter with patience and without irritation - is peculiarly appropriate to geniune friendship.

Hours and days and months and years go by; the past returns no more, and what is to be we cannot know; but whatever the time gives us in which we live, we should therefore be content.

I prefer silent prudence to loquacious folly. [Lat., Malo indisertam prudentiam, quam loquacem stultitiam.]

The last day does not bring extinction to us, but change of place. [Lat., Supremus ille dies non nostri extinctionem sed commutationem affert loci.]

The soil of their native land is dear to all the hearts of mankind.

To stumble twice against the same stone, is a proverbial disgrace. [Lat., Culpa enim illa, bis ad eundem, vulgari reprehensa proverbio est.]

I look upon the pleasure we take in a garden as one of the most innocent delights in human life.

Not to know what has been transacted in former times is to be always a child. If no use is made of the labors of past ages, the world must remain always in the infancy of knowledge.

It is a great thing to know your vices.

History illumes reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life

Patria est communis omnium parens. Our country is the common parent of all.

There is not only an art, but an eloquence in it.

The consciousness of good intention is the greatest solace of misfortunes.

He has no other recommendation, save an assumed and crafty solemnity of demeanour.

Freedom is a man's natural power of doing what he pleases, so far as he is not prevented by force or law.

Through doubt we arrive at the truth.

Man must suffer to be wise.

Please go on, make your threats. I don't like to submit to mere implication.

Man is his own worst enemy. [Lat., Nihil inimicius quam sibi ipse.]

To give counsel, as well as to take it, is a feature of true friendship.

Probabilities direct the conduct of the wise man.

Genius is fostered by industry.