In all matters, before beginning, a diligent preparation should be made. Marcus Tullius Cicero More Quotes by Marcus Tullius Cicero More Quotes From Marcus Tullius Cicero To reduce man to the duties of his own city, and to disengage him from duties to the members of other cities, is to break the universal society of the human race. Marcus Tullius Cicero citiesracemen I will go further, and assert that nature without culture can often do more to deserve praise than culture without nature. Marcus Tullius Cicero deservepraiseculture The whole glory of virtue resides in activity. Marcus Tullius Cicero virtueglorywhole In all great arts, as in trees, it is the height that charms us; we care nothing for the roots or trunks, yet it could not be without the aid of these. Marcus Tullius Cicero rootstreeart Oh, how great is the power of truth! which of its own power can easily defend itself against all the ingenuity and cunning and wisdom of men, and against the treacherous plots of all the world. Marcus Tullius Cicero plottruthmen He who has once deviated from the truth, usually commits perjury with as little scruple as he would tell a lie. Marcus Tullius Cicero truthlittleslying What fervent love of herself would Virtue excite if she could be seen! Marcus Tullius Cicero ferventvanityvirtue Every generous action loves the public view; yet no theatre for virtue is equal to a consciousness of it. Marcus Tullius Cicero theatreviewsaction No one dies too soon who has finished the course of perfect virtue. Marcus Tullius Cicero coursesvirtueperfect Virtue is uniform, conformable to reason, and of unvarying consistency; nothing can be added to it that can make it more than virtue; nothing can be taken from it, and the name of virtue be left. Marcus Tullius Cicero consistencytakennames That which leads us to the performance of duty by offering pleasure as its reward, is not virtue, but a deceptive copy and imitation of virtue. Marcus Tullius Cicero rewardsvirtueoffering Scurrility has no object in view but incivility; if it is uttered from feelings of petulance, it is mere abuse; if it is spoken in a joking manner, it may be considered raillery. Marcus Tullius Cicero abuseviewsfeelings Wars, therefore, are to be undertaken for this end, that we may live in peace, without being injured; but when we obtain the victory, we must preserve those enemies who behaved without cruelty or inhumanity during the war. Marcus Tullius Cicero victorywarenemy Let war be so carried on that no other object may seem to be sought but the acquisition of peace. Marcus Tullius Cicero acquisitionmaywar The law is silent during war. Marcus Tullius Cicero silentlawwar Endless money forms the sinews of war. Marcus Tullius Cicero endlessformwar Mental stains can not be removed by time, nor washed away by any waters. Marcus Tullius Cicero stainswickednesswater There are some duties we owe even to those who have wronged us. There is, after all, a limit to retribution and punishment. Marcus Tullius Cicero retributionpunishmentlimits Law stands mute in the midst of arms. Marcus Tullius Cicero midstarmslaw We do not destroy religion by destroying superstition. Marcus Tullius Cicero destroyingsuperstitions
