1,226 Quotes by Marcus Tullius Cicero

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.

We make allowance for necessity.

War should be undertaken in such a way as to show that its only object is peace.

Probabilities direct the conduct of the wise man.

Hatred is a settled anger.

Nothing is so unbelievable that oratory cannot make it acceptable.

Calamus fortior gladio.

Friendship is the only point in human affairs concerning the benefit of which all, with one voice, agree.

If the oarsmen of a fast-moving ship suddenly cease to row, the suspension of the driving force of the oars doesn't prevent the vessel from continuing to move on its course. And with a speech it is much the same. After he has finished reciting the document, the speaker will still be able to maintain the same tone without a break, borrowing its momentum and impulse from the passage he has just read out.