Marcus Tullius Cicero Quotes

To add a library to a house is to give that house a soul.

O tempora! O mores! O what times (are these)! what morals!

The spirit is the true self. The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure.

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

Any man is liable to err, only a fool persists in error.

What nobler employment, or more valuable to the state, than that of the man who instructs the rising generation?

Exercise and temperance can preserve something of our early strength even in old age.

Like, according to the old proverb, naturally goes with like.

Before beginning, plan carefully.

Advice in old age is foolish; for what can be more absurd than to increase our provisions for the road the nearer we approach to our journey's end.

Law stands mute in the midst of arms.

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.

Nature abhors annihilation.

You must therefore love me, myself, and not my circumstances, if we are to be real friends.

No phase of life, whether public or private, can be free from duty.

To live long, live slowly.

By doubting we come at truth.

Friendship is nothing else than an accord in all things, human and divine, conjoined with mutual goodwill and affection.

A thankful heart is the greatest virtue.

Socrates, indeed, when he was asked of what country he called himself, said, "Of the world"; for he considered himself an inhabitant and a citizen of the whole world.

Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.

In so far as the mind is stronger than the body, so are the ills contracted by the mind more severe than those contracted by the body.

What is dishonorably got, is dishonorably squandered.

Everything is alive... Everything is interconnected.

Let arms yield to the toga, let the [victor's] laurel yield to the [orator's] tongue.

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

In everything satiety closely follows the greatest pleasures.

Peace is freedom in tranquility.

Every evil in the bud is easily crushed: as it grows older, it becomes stronger.

No one dances sober, unless he is insane.

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.

I cease not to advocate peace; even though unjust it is better than the most just war.

True glory takes root, and even spreads; all false pretences, like flowers, fall to the ground; nor can any counterfeit last long.

Nothing is more noble, nothing more venerable than fidelity. Faithfulness and truth are the most sacred excellences and endowments of the human mind.

This is the truth: as from a fire aflame thousands of sparks come forth, even so from the Creator an infinity of beings have life and to him return again.

The function of wisdom is to discriminate between good and evil.

No wise man has called a change of opinion in constancy.

If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.

The whole of virtue consists in its practice.

There are two ways to resolve conflicts, through violence or through negotiation. Violence is for wild beasts, negotiation is for human beings.

One who sees the Supersoul accompanying the individual soul in all bodies and who understands that neither the soul nor the Supersoul is ever destroyed, actually sees.

It is difficult to set bounds to the price unless you first set bounds to the wish.

Friendship was given by nature to be an assistant to virtue, not a companion in vice.

Do not hold the delusion that your advancement is accomplished by crushing others.

Through ignorance of what is good and what is bad, the life of men is greatly perplexed.

Nobody can give you wiser advice than yourself; you will never err if you listen to your own suggestions.

There is no statement so absurd that no philosopher will make it.

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

As you have sown so shall you reap.

There is wickedness in the intention of wickedness, even though it be not perpetrated in the act.