Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.
Interpretation
Gratitude is a fundamental virtue that gives rise to all other positive traits.
This quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero emphasizes the importance of gratitude as a foundational virtue. It suggests that being thankful is not only crucial in its own right but also paves the way for developing other virtuous qualities, such as kindness, compassion, and humility. In recognizing and appreciating what we have, we cultivate a mindset that fosters a multitude of other positive traits that enhance our character and relationships.
In practice
This quote can be used in a motivational speech about developing personal virtues.
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.
It is certain that, because the negligent do not struggle against self, they never achieve peace of soul or do so tardily, and never possess any virtue in its fullness, while the energetic and industrious make notable advances on both fronts.
At the top of the mountain we are all snow leopards.
The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.
For values or guiding principles to be truly effective they have to be verbs. It's not "integrity," it's "always do the right thing." It's not "innovation," it's "look at the problem from a different angle." Articulating our values as verbs gives us a clear idea - we have a clear idea of how to act in any situation.
We need to look at truth. We need to look at justice, and we need to look at righteousness. And let that be our guide going forward.
Wealth is nothing more or less than a tool to do things with. It is like the fuel that runs the furnace or the belt that runs the wheel - only a means to an end.
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