Marcus Tullius Cicero May Quotations

Knowledge which is divorced from justice, may be called cunning rather than wisdom.

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

The only excuse for war is that we may live in peace unharmed.

There is no one so old as to not think they may live a day longer.

You may never be less alone than when you are alone.

Anyone may fairly seek his own advantage, but no one has a right to do so at another's expense.

What the object of senile avarice may be I cannot conceive. For can there be anything more absurd than to seek more journey money, the less there remains of the journey?

So you see, old age is really not so bad. May you come to know the condition!

Let war be so carried on that no other object may seem to be sought but the acquisition of peace. [Lat., Bellum autem ita suscipiatur, ut nihil aliud, nisi pax, quaesita videatur.]

Any man may make a mistake; none but a fool will stick to it. Second thoughts are best as the proverb says. [Lat., Cujusvis hominis est errare; nullius, nisi insipientis, in errore perseverae. Posteriores enim cogitationes (ut aiunt) sapientiores solent esse.]

For as the law is set over the magistrate, even so are the magistrates set over the people. And therefore, it may be truly said, "that the magistrate is a speaking law, and the law is a silent magistrate.

If nature does not ratify law, then all the virtues may lose their sway.

In our amusements a certain limit is to be placed that we may not devote ourselves to a life of pleasure and thence fall into immorality.

Men think they may justly do that for which they have a precedent.

How great an evil do you see that may have been announced by you against the Republic? - Videtis quantum scelus contra rem publicam vobis nuntiatum sit?

On the subject of the nature of the gods, the first question is Do the gods exist or do the not? It is difficult you may say to deny that they exist. I would agree if we were arguing the matter in a public assembly, but in a private discussion of this kind, it is perfectly easy to do so.

Wars are to be undertaken in order that it may be possible to live in peace without molestation.

We are bound by the law, so that we may be free.