Marcus Tullius Cicero

Find the best quotes, maxims and aphorisms of Marcus Tullius Cicero

Biography : Roman politician and lawyer.
Born: -106 - Died: -43
Period:
1st century BC
2nd century BC
Place of birth: Italy
Italy

Italy

Marcus Tullius Cicero - Quotes

Our character is not so much the product of race and heredity as of those circumstances by which nature forms our habits, by which we are nurtured and live.
Marcus Tullius Cicero /

Brevity is the best recommendation of speech, whether in a senator or an orator.
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 /

People do not understand what a great revenue economy is.
Marcus Tullius Cicero /

A home without books is a body without soul.
Marcus Tullius Cicero /

Death is not natural for a state as it is for a human being, for whom death is not only necessary, but frequently even desirable.
Marcus Tullius Cicero /

death

Virtue is a habit of the mind, consistent with nature and moderation and reason.
Marcus Tullius Cicero /

No one was ever great without some portion of divine inspiration.
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 /

That last day does not bring extinction to us, but change of place.
Marcus Tullius Cicero /

What then is freedom? The power to live as one wishes.
Marcus Tullius Cicero /

freedom

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

Nobody can give you wiser advice than yourself.
Marcus Tullius Cicero /

oneself

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 /

soul

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

I add this, that rational ability without education has oftener raised man to glory and virtue, than education without natural ability.
Marcus Tullius Cicero /

Those wars are unjust which are undertaken without provocation. For only a war waged for revenge or defense can be just.
Marcus Tullius Cicero /

So near is falsehood to truth that a wise man would do well not to trust himself on the narrow edge.
Marcus Tullius Cicero /

Great is the power of habit. It teaches us to bear fatigue and to despise wounds and pain.
Marcus Tullius Cicero /

Frivolity is inborn, conceit acquired by education.
Marcus Tullius Cicero /

The study and knowledge of the universe would somehow be lame and defective were no practical results to follow.
Marcus Tullius Cicero /

universe

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

truth

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 /

The sinews of war are infinite money.
Marcus Tullius Cicero /

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

freedom

If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started.
Marcus Tullius Cicero /

life

Of all nature's gifts to the human race, what is sweeter to a man than his children?
Marcus Tullius Cicero /

We should not be so taken up in the search for truth, as to neglect the needful duties of active life for it is only action that gives a true value and commendation to virtue.
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 /

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