Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
Nothing is more unreliable than the populace, nothing more obscure than human intentions, nothing more deceptive than the whole electoral system.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Cicero expresses skepticism about the reliability of the public and electoral systems.
In this quote, Marcus Tullius Cicero highlights the inherent flaws and uncertainties in human behavior and the democratic process. He suggests that the general public is often inconsistent and unreliable, human motives can be difficult to understand, and the electoral system can mislead and deceive, reflecting a deep mistrust of political structures and the motivations behind them.
Themes
PopulaceHuman IntentionsElectoral SystemDeceptionReliability
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared at a political debate to spark discussion about the integrity of electoral processes.
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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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