Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
The best interpreter of the law is custom.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Custom and tradition often shape the interpretation and application of law more effectively than written statutes.
This quote by Cicero emphasizes the importance of custom in understanding and interpreting the law. Rather than relying solely on written laws, Cicero suggests that societal practices and traditions can provide deeper insights and clarity in legal matters, acknowledging that human behavior and consistent customs often play a crucial role in how justice is administered and understood.
Themes
LawCustomTraditionInterpretationJustice
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about legal rights, I would use this quote to highlight the significance of societal norms in interpreting the law.
More from Marcus Tullius Cicero
All quotes βThose wars are unjust which are undertaken without provocation. For only a war waged for revenge or defence can actually be just.
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Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak.
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Nothing contributes to the entertainment of the reader more, than the change of times and the vicissitudes of fortune.
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No one has the right to be sorry for himself for a misfortune that strikes everyone.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
Advice in old age is foolish; for what can be more absurd than to increase our provisions for the road the nearer we approach to our journey's end.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
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