Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
They are eloquent who can speak low things acutely, and of great things with dignity, and of moderate things with temper.
Interpretation
Effective communication requires the ability to express various ideas appropriately depending on their significance.
Cicero emphasizes the importance of eloquence in communication, suggesting that the true skill lies in how one conveys ideas. The ability to articulate minor matters sharply, major topics with respect, and moderate subjects with a balanced approach reflects a deep understanding of the nuances of language and context.
In practice
In a speech about community issues, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of communicating complex ideas with simplicity.
Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Those wars are unjust which are undertaken without provocation. For only a war waged for revenge or defence can actually be just.
Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak.
Nothing contributes to the entertainment of the reader more, than the change of times and the vicissitudes of fortune.
No one has the right to be sorry for himself for a misfortune that strikes everyone.
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.
The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.
Nobody likes to fail but failure is an essential part of life and of learning. If your uniform isn't dirty, you haven't been in the game.
A man knows when he has found his vocation when he stops thinking about how to live and begins to live.
Ignorance is not too dangerous. If you combine it with power, then this is a toxic mix.
Simplicity is the key to brilliance.
It is always with excitement that I wake up in the morning wondering what my intuition will toss up to me, like gifts from the sea. I work with it and rely on it. It's my partner.
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