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In nothing do humans approach so nearly to the gods as doing good to others.
Marcus Tullius Cicero
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Helping others elevates humanity and brings us closer to the divine.

This quote by Cicero emphasizes the noble act of doing good for others as a way to approach the divine. It suggests that in our efforts to aid and support fellow beings, we embody a quality that transcends our human limitations and aligns us with the ideals often associated with godliness.

Themes

GoodnessHumanityServiceDivineKindness

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about community service, one might reference this quote to inspire volunteerism.

More from Marcus Tullius Cicero

Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
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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.
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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.
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