Marcus Tullius Cicero Quotes

The countenance is the portrait of the soul, and the eyes mark its intentions.

In fact the whole passion ordinarily termed love (and heaven help me if I can think of any other term to apply to it) is of such exceeding triviality that I see nothing that I think comparable with it.

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.

He cannot be strict in judging, who does not wish others to be strict judges of himself.

The happiest end of life is this: when the mind and the other senses being unimpaired, the same nature which put it together takes asunder her own work.

The more laws, the less justice.

Let reason govern desire.

The men who administer public affairs must first of all see that everyone holds onto what is his, and that private men are never deprived of their goods by public men.

An old man with something of the youth in him, may feel young in mind and heart only.

The name of peace is sweet and the thing itself good, but between peace and slavery there is the greatest difference.

That which is usually called dotage is not the weak point of all old men, but only of such as are distinguished by their levity.

For he, indeed, who looks into the face of a friend beholds, as it were, a copy of himself.

We don't believe a liar even when he tells the truth.

Let the force of arms give place to law and justice.

This is the part of a great man, after he has maturely weighed all circumstances, to punish the guilty, to spare the many, and in every state of fortune not to depart from an upright, virtuous conduct.

There is no quality I would rather have, and be thought to have, than gratitude. For it is not only the greatest virtue, but is the mother of all the rest.

Who doesn't know that the first law of history is not to dare to say anything false, and the second is not to refrain from saying anything true?

No deceit is so veiled as that which lies concealed behind the semblance of courtesy.

No one can speak well, unless he thoroughly understands his subject.

He has no worse enemy than himself.

I speak of that learning which wakes us acquainted with the boundless extent of nature, and the universe, and which even while we remain in this world, discovers to us both heaven, earth, and sea.

It is not the place that maketh the person, but the person that maketh the place honorable.

Yield, ye arms, to the toga; to civic praise, ye laurels.

The hope of impunity is the greatest inducement to do wrong.

In all great arts, as in trees, it is the height that charms us; we care nothing for the roots or trunks, yet it could not be without the aid of these.

Falsehoods border on truths.

The beauty of the world and the orderly arrangement of everything celestial makes us confess that there is an excellent and eternal nature, which ought to be worshiped and admired by all mankind.

Whatever is done without ostentation, and without the people being witnesses of it, is, in my opinion, most praiseworthy: not that the public eye should be entirely avoided, for good actions desire to be placed in the light; but notwithstanding this, the greatest theater for virtue is conscience.

Frivolity is inborn, conceit acquired by education.

We make allowance for necessity.

I follow nature as the surest guide, and resign myself with implicit obedience to her sacred ordinances.

But as to the affection which anyone may have for us, it is the first demand of duty that we do most for him who loves us most; but we should measure affection, not like youngsters, by the ardour of its passion, but rather by its strength and constancy.

Studies are the food of youth, the delight of old age; the ornament of prosperity, the refuge and comfort of adversity; a delight at home, and no hindrance abroad; they are companions by night, and in travel, and in the country.

The mind becomes accustomed to things by the habitual sight of them, and neither wonders nor inquires about the reasons for things it sees all the time.

Time destroys the speculation of men, but it confirms nature.

Hatred is inveterate anger.

In ancient times music was the foundation of all the sciences. Education was begun with music with the persuasion that nothing could be expected of a man who was ignorant of music.

To those who are engaged in commercial dealings, justice is indispensable for the conduct of business.

The devil finds work for idle hands to do. Better to reign in the hell than serve in heaven. We are in bondage to the law in order that we may be free.

Nothing is so strongly fortified that it cannot be taken by money.

If you would abolish covetousness, you must abolish its mother, profusion.

It is a great proof of talents to be able to recall the mind from the senses, and to separate thought from habit.

For if that last day does not occasion an entire extinction, but a change of abode only, what can be more desirable? And if it, on the other hand, destroys and absolutely puts an end to us, what can be preferable to having a deep sleep fall on us in the midst of the fatigues of life and, being thus overtaken, to sleep to eternity?

A letter does not blush.

Where is there dignity unless there is honesty?

Our minds possess by nature an insatiable desire to know the truth.

Probability is the very guide of life.

Let each man have according to his deserts.