Marcus Tullius Cicero Quotes On Love & Life (Leadership)

Cicero was a prominent figure in Roman history famous for his exceptional oratory skills, keen intellect, and profound philosophical insights. Here are the best Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes about love, life, death, law, and government that will inspire you to live a just and virtuous life.

Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, and writer who tried to uphold republican principles during the political crises that led to the establishment of the Roman Empire.

Also Check: Aristotle Quotes

He was born to a wealthy family and received a quality education. He studied Roman law and went on to be elected to each of Rome’s principal offices, becoming the youngest citizen to attain the highest rank of consul.

He is considered one of Rome’s greatest orators and the innovator of what became known as “Ciceronian rhetoric.”  His works and writings include books of rhetoric, orations, and philosophical and political treatises.

Cicero made a big mistake by speaking against Mark Anthony who rose to power after Julius Caesar’s assassination. He was declared a public enemy and was executed.

His writings have passed the test of time. Even after his death, his words of wisdom influenced the thinking of the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods. Though his life was in a very different world, his ideas still ring true today.

These inspirational Cicero quotes inspire virtues like eloquence, justice, and leadership. His wisdom encourages you to stay strong and think deeply about life’s big questions.

Top 10 Cicero Quotes

1. “More law, less justice.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero     

   
2. “Glory follows virtue as if it were its shadow.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero         

   

3. “I prefer tongue-tied knowledge to ignorant loquacity.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero       

   

4. “The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero   

   

5. “The higher we are placed, the more humbly we should walk.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero   

   

6. “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” — Cicero     

   

7. “Any man can make mistakes, but only an idiot persists in his error.” —  Cicero       

   

8. “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” —  Cicero         

   

9. “Live as brave men; and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts.” — Cicero
10. “Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.” — Cicero

Marcus Tullius Cicero Quotes

1. “Anger is the beginning of madness.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
2. “Never go to excess but let moderation be your guide.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
3. “Love is the attempt to form a friendship inspired by beauty.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
4. “The pursuit, even of the best things, ought to be calm and tranquil.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
5. “If we are not ashamed to think it, we should not be ashamed to say it.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
6. “The harvest of old age is the recollection and abundance of blessing previously secured.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
7. “Faithfulness and truth are the most sacred excellence and endowments of the human mind.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
8. “It is the character of a brave and resolute person not to be ruffled by adversity, and not to desert their post.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
9. “The wise are instructed by reason, average minds by experience, the stupid by necessity and the brute by instinct.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Quotes Of Marcus Tullius Cicero 

Cicero’s quotes are like little pieces of advice that are easy to understand but pack a lot of meaning. Let’s dive into some of his sayings and discover the simple yet profound ideas that Cicero left for us to ponder.

1. “While there’s life, there’s hope.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero       

   

2. “Life is nothing without friendship.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero         

   

3. “A friend is, as it were a second self.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero           

   

4. “A man of courage is also full of faith.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero         

   

5. “Ability without honor is useless.”— Marcus Tullius Cicero           

   

6. “We do not destroy religion by destroying superstition.”— Marcus Tullius Cicero
7. “The shifts of fortune test the reliability of friends.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero     

   

8. “The sweetest support is found in the most intimate friendship.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
9. “To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
10. “Of all nature’s gifts to the human race, what is sweeter to a man than his children?” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
11. “Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Cicero Quotes

1. “In times of war, the law falls silent.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
2. “The safety of the people shall be the highest law.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
3. “We must not say that every mistake is a foolish one.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
4. “Your enemies can kill you but only your friends can hurt you.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
5. “The face is a picture of the mind with the eyes as its interpreter.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
6. “The greatest pleasures are only narrowly separated from disgust.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
7. “Any man can make mistakes but only an idiot persists in his error.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
8. “Live as brave men; and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
9. “He does not seem to me to be a free man who does not sometimes do nothing.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
10. “The purpose of education is to free the student from the tyranny of the present.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
11. “The man who is always fortunate cannot easily have a great reverence for virtue.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
12. “The life given us, by nature is short; but the memory of a well-spent life is eternal.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
13. “Just as the soul fills the body, so God fills the world. Just as the soul bears the body, so God endures the world. Just as the soul sees but is not seen, so God sees but is not seen. Just as the soul feeds the body, so God gives food to the world.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Best Marcus Tullius Cicero

1. “It is a great thing to know our vices.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
2. “The good of the people is the greatest law.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
3. “A home without books is a body without soul.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
4. “Silence is one of the great arts of conversation.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
5. “The greater the difficulty, the greater the glory.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
6. “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
7. “The authority of those who teach is often an obstacle to those who want to learn.” — Cicero
8. “It is the peculiar quality of a fool to perceive the faults of others and to forget his own.” — Cicero
9. “Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents, and everyone is writing a book.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
10. “Confidence is that feeling by which the mind embarks in great and honorable courses with a sure hope and trust in itself.” — Cicero
11. “It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, the force of character, and judgment.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
12. “Read at every wait; read at all hours; read within leisure; read in times of labor; read as one goes out. The task of the educated mind is simply put: read to lead.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Inspirational Cicero Quotes

1. “No sane man will dance.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
2. “A happy life consists in tranquility of mind.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
3. “We should be as careful of our words as of our actions.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
4. “What then is Freedom? The power to live as one wishes.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
5. “A man’s own manner and character is what most becomes him.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
6. “Within the character of the citizen, lies the welfare of the nation.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
7. “Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
8. “To be content with what we possess is the greatest and most secure of riches.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
9. “Every word that is unnecessary only pours over the side of a brimming mind.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
10. “Long life is denied us; therefore let us do something to show that we have lived.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
11. “It is difficult to persuade mankind that the love of virtue is the love of themselves.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
12. “Hatreds not vowed and concealed are to be feared more than those openly declared.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
13. “When time and need require, we should resist with all our might, and prefer death to slavery and disgrace.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
14. “Promises are not to be kept, if the keeping of them is to prove harmful to those to whom you have made them.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
15. “There is no one who can give you wiser advice than you can give yourself: you will never make a slip, if you listen to your own heart.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Conclusion

What are your favorite Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes and sayings listed above? If there is a quote that we’ve missed then let us know in the comments section what your thoughts are.

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