Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True passion should be guided by reason; without reason, passion can lead to unwise actions.
This quote by Cicero underscores the importance of balancing passion with rational thought. It suggests that while passion fuels ambition and creativity, it should not dominate our decisions entirely, as acting solely on passion without the temperance of reason can lead to poor judgment and outcomes. Therefore, the most effective use of passion is when it operates in harmony with reason, allowing one to pursue goals intelligently and thoughtfully.
Themes
PassionReasonWisdomBalanceDecision Making
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a motivational talk about finding the right balance in pursuing goals.
More from Marcus Tullius Cicero
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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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