Quotes from Marcus Tullius Cicero

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

We do not destroy religion by destroying superstition.

There is in superstition a senseless fear of God; religion consists in the pious worship of Him.

Piety and holiness of life will propitiate the gods. [Lat., Deos placatos pietas efficiet et sanctitas.]

We are obliged to respect, defend and maintain the common bonds of union and fellowship that exist among all members of the human race.

If we are forced, at every hour, to watch or listen to horrible events, this constant stream of ghastly impressions will deprive even the most delicate among us of all respect for humanity.

He removes the greatest ornament of friendship who takes away from it respect.

Can there be greater foolishness than the respect you pay to people collectively when you despise them individually?

Promises are not to be kept, if the keeping of them is to prove harmful to those to whom you have made them.

Not only is there an art in knowing a thing, but also a certain art in teaching it.

Without your knowledge, the eyes and ears of many will see and watch you, as they have done already.

Not to know what has been transacted in former times is to be always a child. If no use is made of the labors of past ages, the world must remain always in the infancy of knowledge.

Ignorance of impending evil is far better than a knowledge of its approach.

Not to have knowledge of what happened before you were born is to be condemned to live as a child.

Memory is the receptacle and sheath of all knowledge

Persistence in a single view has never been regarded as a merit in political leaders.

Read at every wait; read at all hours; read within leisure; read in times of labor; read as one goes in; read as one goest out. The task of the educated mind is simply put: read to lead.

The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.

I prefer tongue-tied knowledge to ignorant loquacity.

In doubtful cases the more liberal interpretation must always be preferred.

Laws should be interpreted in a liberal sense so that their intention may be preserved.

It is of no avail to know what is about to happen; for it is a sad thing to be grieved when grief can do no good.

A mind without instruction can no more bear fruit than can a field, however fertile, without cultivation.

The contemplation of celestial things will make a man both speak and think more sublimely and magnificently when he descends to human affairs.