7 Sentences From Cicero, A Humanist Philosopher With Universal Reach
We can consider Cicero, philosopher and historian, as one of the first humanists. On the other hand, he was not only famous for his philosophy. He was also renowned for his eloquence. And his political analyzes engaged.
Cicero’s sentences therefore deal with a whole range of subjects. These range from friendship and love to good government of a state. His way of seeing the world was indeed anti-dogmatic and ethical. The quotes we offer you today pick up on some of his most important thoughts.
1. One of Cicero’s quotes about change
The rejection of dogmatism is precisely one of the recurring themes in Cicero’s sentences. He lamented the rigidity of thought and regarded it as a deficiency which led to great errors. The philosopher expresses this idea very well in an affirmation. “No learned man has said that a change of opinion is inconstancy”.
He explains here that changing one’s opinion has nothing to do with inconstancy. Quite the contrary: it is an intelligent attitude, the fruit of an open mind. No one who is permeable to reality has unchangeable opinions.
2. The greed for happiness
An interesting question arises in one of Cicero’s sentences. He said: “I do not understand why the happy man seeks greater happiness“. This is what one might call a “greed for happiness”. This is the tendency to accumulate more happiness.
This observation is very correct. Thus, the human being seems to be condemned never to be satisfied with anything. Achieving happiness does not even quench his thirst. Paradoxically, this condemns us to cohabit with a point of eternal misfortune.
3. True friendship
The theme of friendship is one of the most recurrent in Cicero’s sentences. It is obvious that friends were for him one of the greatest treasures in life. That’s why he thought a lot about it at this point.
One of his statements states: “Nature wants friendship to be a pledge of virtues and not a companion of vices”. This means that there is a big difference between true friends and those who are simply seeking our favors. Or reinforce our negative behaviors.
4. The power of eloquence
It is said that Cicero’s oratory ability was extraordinary. In a trial in which he was a lawyer, it is said that the accused banished himself after hearing the impressive arguments of the philosopher’s speech.
However, Cicero is critical of the art of oratory. He said about it: “There is nothing so incredible that eloquence cannot make acceptable”. In other words, there is nothing that words cannot make believable.
5. Peace and war
Marcus Tullius Cicero served the army and was in the military for over three years. Yet he considered peace to be a value. And the law as the maximum authority. He saw armed confrontations as the expression of the worst barbarism.
One of his sentences says: “I would prefer the most unjust peace to the most just of wars”. This statement has been quoted hundreds of times by all kinds of leaders around the world. For him, peace, imperfect as it is, will always be better than war.
6. The human being and the years
Here is another quote from Cicero that we often hear. She says: “Men are like wines: over time, the good get better and the bad get bitter.” A very true and very beautiful analogy.
Through this sentence, he wants to tell us that the years allow the essence of the real character of people to emerge. It is a very beautiful way to see the passage of time. Instead of representing a step towards decadence, it is rather a process of purification.
7. Truth and silence
This sentence from Cicero is absolutely wonderful. This is why it is universal and timeless. She talks to us about the value of truth and says: “Truth is corrupted with lying as well as with silence”.
This quote is wonderful because it confronts us with an indisputable reality. Responsibility for the truth is about more than not saying or repeating wrong things. It is also linked to not being silent when an injustice is committed.
Like many others in his day, Cicero was repeatedly sued for several political stories that took place under the Roman Empire. He was eventually executed after being declared an enemy of the state. However, his work continues to live on through the ages.
Our thoughts Five quotes from the famous Greek philosopher that will inspire you to think and try to improve yourself as a human being.
