Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
A person who is wise does nothing against their will, nothing with sighing or under coercion.
Interpretation
True wisdom involves acting freely and willingly, without external pressures or regrets.
This quote by Cicero suggests that wisdom is characterized by the ability to act according to one's own desires and principles. A wise individual makes choices that align with their true self, rather than succumbing to external pressures or feelings of resentment, emphasizing the importance of free will and authenticity in one's actions.
In practice
In a motivational speech about the importance of pursuing one's passion over societal expectations.
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.
I feel like role models today are not meant to be put on a pedestal. But more like angels with broken wings.
When a man is to travel into a far country...one staff in his hand may comfortably support him, but a bundle of staves would be troublesome. Thus a competency of these outward things may happily help us in the way to heaven, whereas abundance may be hurtful.
Always forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.
Example is a bright looking-glass, universal and for all shapes to look into.
Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago. The person sitting in the shade now should be grateful for the person who planted and tended that tree. That includes all those benefactors of humanity throughout history that created, invented, financed, produced, maintained and improved all that we enjoy today.
Primum non nocerum. (First do no harm)
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.