Marcus Tullius Cicero Quotes

Art is born of the observation and investigation of nature.

Old age is by nature rather talkative.

He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.

There is no duty more indispensible than that of returning a kindness.

To study philosophy is nothing but to prepare one’s self to die.

In everything satiety closely follows the greatest pleasures.

No sober person dances.

Be sure that it is not you that is mortal, but only your body. For that man whom your outward form reveals is not yourself; the spirit is the true self, not that physical figure which and be pointed out by your finger.

Let the punishment match the offense.

It is not only arrogant, but it is profligate, for a man to disregard the world's opinion of himself.

What is dishonorably got, is dishonorably squandered.

Before beginning, prepare carefully.

For of all gainful professions, nothing is better, nothing more pleasing, nothing more delightful, nothing better becomes a well-bred man than #‎ agriculture

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.

While the sick man has life, there is hope.

The absolute good is not a matter of opinion but of nature.

That is probable which for the most part usually comes to pass, or which is a part of the ordinary beliefs of mankind.

It is a true saying that 'one falsehood easily leads to another.'

The sinews of war are infinite money.

In the conduct of almost every affair slowness and procrastination are hateful

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

Nature herself has imprinted on the minds of all the idea of God

There is in fact a true law namely right reason, which is in accordance with nature, applies to all men and is unchangeable and eternal. ... It will not lay down one rule at Rome and another at Athens, nor will it be one rule today and another tomorrow. But there will be one law eternal and unchangeable binding all times and upon all peoples.

An unjust peace is better than a just war.

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

What is so beneficial to the people as liberty, which we see not only to be greedily sought after by men, but also by beasts, and to be prepared in all things.

I am never less alone than when alone.

Prosperity demands of us more prudence and moderation than adversity.

Thrift is of great revenue.

Prudence in action avails more than wisdom in conception.

Quacks pretend to cure other men's disorders, but fail to find a remedy for their own.

Never can custom conquer nature, for she is ever unconquered.

To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child. For what is the worth of human life, unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by the records of history?

They who dare to ask anything of a friend, by their very request seem to imply that they would do anything for the sake of that friend.

Leisure consists in all those virtuous activities by which a man grows morally, intellectually, and spiritually. It is that which makes a life worth living.

Nature abhors annihilation.

Some men make a womanish complaint that it is a great misfortune to die before our time. I would ask what time? Is it that of Nature? But she, indeed, has lent us life, as we do a sum of money, only no certain day is fixed for payment. What reason then to complain if she demands it at pleasure, since it was on this condition that you received it.

For my own part, I had rather be old only a short time than be old before I really am so.

Armed forces abroad are of little value unless there is prudent counsel at home

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

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.

No man in his senses will dance.

All things are full of God.

Let every man practice the art that he knows best.

Wisdom often exists under a shabby coat.

It is the soul itself which sees and hears, and not those parts which are, as it were, but windows to the soul.

Though laughter is allowable, a horse-laugh is abominable.

Crimes are not to be measured by the issue of events, but by the bad intentions of men.