Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
The spirit is the true self. The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The essence of a person lies in their spirit, which drives their desire to succeed and persist.
This quote emphasizes the importance of the spirit as the core of one's identity and the intrinsic motivation that fuels a person's drive to achieve greatness. Cicero suggests that it is not just the outcome of winning or excelling that matters, but the enduring spirit and will that push individuals to pursue their goals continuously, reflecting resilience and determination.
Themes
SpiritWillSuccessEnduranceIdentity
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech at a sporting event, one might say, 'Remember that the spirit is what drives us to succeed.'
More from Marcus Tullius Cicero
All quotes βThose wars are unjust which are undertaken without provocation. For only a war waged for revenge or defence can actually be just.
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Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak.
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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.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
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