Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes

Born
106 BC, Arpinum, Roman Republic.

Died
7 December 43 BC.

Occupation
Statesman, orator, lawyer, philosopher.

Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman statesman, lawyer, orator and philosopher.

Honor is the reward of virtue.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

It is the peculiar quality of a fool to perceive the faults of others and to forget his own.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

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

A friend is, as it were, a second self.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

The higher we are placed, the more humbly we should walk.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

Thou shouldst eat to live; not live to eat.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

To live is to think.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

An unjust peace is better than a just war.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

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

The greater the difficulty, the greater the glory.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

Rightly defined philosophy is simply the love of wisdom.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

Laws are silent in time of war.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

Old age: the crown of life, our play’s last act.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

Silence is one of the great arts of conversation.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

The countenance is the portrait of the soul, and the eyes mark its intentions.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

When you have no basis for an argument, abuse the plaintiff.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

Any man can make mistakes, but only an idiot persists in his error.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

Whatever you do, do with all your might.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

What an ugly beast the ape, and how like us.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

Next to God we are nothing. To God we are Everything.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

While there’s life, there’s hope.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

The wise are instructed by reason, average minds by experience, the stupid by necessity and the brute by instinct.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

In doubtful cases the more liberal interpretation must always be preferred.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

The safety of the people shall be the highest law.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

Rashness belongs to youth; prudence to old age.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

Brevity is a great charm of eloquence.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero

A man’s own manner and character is what most becomes him.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero