Cicero Biography

Cicero, Philosopher
Born asMarcus Tullius Cicero
Occup.Philosopher
FromRome
Born106 BC
Arpinum, Italy, Roman Republic
Died43 BC
Formia, Italy, Roman Republic
CauseExecution by decapitation
Early Life
Marcus Tullius Cicero was born on January 3, 106 BC, in Arpinum, a hill town situated around 100 miles southeast of Rome. Cicero belonged to the equestrian class or the 2nd tier of the Roman social hierarchy, just listed below the senatorial class. His daddy was a provincial landowner with interests in Rome, which allowed young Cicero to receive the very best education possible.

Cicero received early education in Rome and later studied law, rhetoric, and approach. He studied under the most prominent instructors of his days, like the Roman philosopher Philo of Larissa and the Greek rhetorician Apollonius Molon. After finishing his education, Cicero served briefly in the army prior to embarking on his profession as an advocate and orator.

Legal Career and Entry into Politics
Cicero's legal career began under the observation of significant Roman orator and political leader Lucius Licinius Crassus. The majority of his early cases were defenses, and they offered a platform for him to display his remarkable oratory abilities. His first considerable legal triumph was available in the case of Pro Quinctio in 81 BC.

Cicero's growing reputation in the law courts led him to go into politics. He began his political profession as a quaestor in 75 BC, responsible for the Roman treasury and financial matters. His term as quaestor in Sicily made him tremendous appeal and support from the Sicilian people. In 70 BC, Cicero was elected as aedile and later on as praetor in 66 BC, which gave him the chance to lead a court for the very first time.

The most famous case that catapulted Cicero into the spotlight was his effective prosecution of the corrupt provincial guv Gaius Verres in 70 BC. Cicero's powerful and eloquent denunciation of Verres led to the latter's conviction and exile.

Consulship and the Catilinarian Conspiracy
In 63 BC, Cicero was elected consul, the highest office in the Roman Republic, and served along with Gaius Antonius Hybrida. His election was seen as a victory for the "new men" or novi homines, Roman politicians who did not originate from old senatorial families.

During his consulship, Cicero faced the Catilinarian conspiracy led by Lucius Sergius Catilina. Catilina and his fans looked for to overthrow the Roman Republic and institute a new federal government led by themselves. Cicero, through prompt intelligence event and wise political maneuvering, was able to expose the conspirators and deliver a series of speeches known as the Catiline Orations. The Senate declared martial law, and the main conspirators were detained and executed without trial. Cicero's success over the conspiracy was celebrated as a victory of law and order.

Exile and Return
Cicero's opponents, notably the populist politician Publius Clodius Pulcher, looked for to discredit and punish him for performing the Catilinarian conspirators without a trial. In 58 BC, Clodius maneuvered an expense through the Senate that indirectly targeted Cicero, causing his exile. Cicero took haven in Thessalonica, Macedonia, while his home in Rome was taken and his house ruined.

Cicero's exile lasted for 16 months. Throughout this time, his good friends and advocates lobbied tirelessly for his return. In 57 BC, the Senate passed a decree to restore Cicero's home and recall him to Rome. His return was met widespread festivity, with fans lining the streets to invite him back.

Later Political Career and Philosophical Writings
Cicero's political influence and power decreased after his return from exile, as Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Marcus Licinius Crassus formed the First Triumvirate - an informal political alliance that controlled Rome's government. Unable to discover a place in the new political order, Cicero relied on writing thoroughly on philosophical and rhetorical subjects.

During this duration, Cicero produced some of his most well-known works, consisting of "De Oratore" (On the Orator), "De Re Publica" (On the Republic), "De Legibus" (On the Laws), "De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum" (On completions of Good and Evil), and "De Natura Deorum" (On the Nature of the Gods).

The Civil War and Assassination
The Roman Republic descended into civil war following the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC. Cicero initially welcomed Caesar's death, wishing for a return to the old Republic's virtues. However, the increase of Mark Antony as a dominant figure in Rome required Cicero to reevaluate his position.

Cicero fiercely opposed Mark Antony in a series of speeches known as the Philippics, looking for to turn the Senate versus him in favor of Octavian, Caesar's great-nephew, and adopted child. However, this method backfired when Octavian and Antony eventually fixed up and formed the Second Triumvirate, along with Marcus Aemilius Lepidus.

In 43 BC, the Second Triumvirate initiated a series of proscriptions versus its opponents, and Cicero was consisted of in the list. He attempted to run away, but Roman soldiers ultimately recorded and executed him on December 7, 43 BC. His head and hands were shown in the Roman Forum as a gruesome warning to other prospective opponents.

Legacy
Cicero's works have had a profound and long-lasting impact on Western viewpoint and rhetoric. His ideas on the importance of reason, the need to study philosophy to understand the world, the function of oratory in public life, and the requirement of moral stability for politicians continue to be extensively studied and appreciated. In both his political profession and his intellectual pursuits, Cicero's life exemplified the ancient Roman virtues of knowledge, courage, and devotion to the general public excellent.

Our collection contains 130 quotes who is written / told by Cicero, under the main topics: Success - Age - Death - Faith - Food.

Related authors: Plutarch (Philosopher), Philo (Philosopher), Michel de Montaigne (Philosopher), Julius Caesar (Leader), Marcus Terentius Varro (Author), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete), Ryan White (Celebrity)

Cicero Famous Works:
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130 Famous quotes by Cicero

Small: Advice in old age is foolish for what can be more absurd than to increase our provisions for the road t
"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"
Small: The more laws, the less justice
"The more laws, the less justice"
Small: We are all motivated by a keen desire for praise, and the better a man is, the more he is inspired to g
"We are all motivated by a keen desire for praise, and the better a man is, the more he is inspired to glory"
Small: When you have no basis for an argument, abuse the plaintiff
"When you have no basis for an argument, abuse the plaintiff"
Small: There are more men ennobled by study than by nature
"There are more men ennobled by study than by nature"
Small: Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak
"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak"
Small: The harvest of old age is the recollection and abundance of blessing previously secured
"The harvest of old age is the recollection and abundance of blessing previously secured"
Small: If you pursue good with labor, the labor passes away but the good remains if you pursue evil with pleas
"If you pursue good with labor, the labor passes away but the good remains; if you pursue evil with pleasure, the pleasure passes away and the evil remains"
Small: Frivolity is inborn, conceit acquired by education
"Frivolity is inborn, conceit acquired by education"
Small: As I approve of a youth that has something of the old man in him, so I am no less pleased with an old m
"As I approve of a youth that has something of the old man in him, so I am no less pleased with an old man that has something of the youth. He that follows this rule may be old in body, but can never be so in mind"
Small: One who sees the Supersoul accompanying the individual soul in all bodies and who understands that neit
"One who sees the Supersoul accompanying the individual soul in all bodies and who understands that neither the soul nor the Supersoul is ever destroyed, actually sees"
Small: Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends
"Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends"
Small: Justice consists in doing no injury to men decency in giving them no offense
"Justice consists in doing no injury to men; decency in giving them no offense"
Small: The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living
"The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living"
Small: The higher we are placed, the more humbly we should walk
"The higher we are placed, the more humbly we should walk"
Small: No one can give you better advice than yourself
"No one can give you better advice than yourself"
Small: No obligation to do the impossible is binding
"No obligation to do the impossible is binding"
Small: Never injure a friend, even in jest
"Never injure a friend, even in jest"
Small: It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, fo
"It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgment"
Small: Any man can make mistakes, but only an idiot persists in his error
"Any man can make mistakes, but only an idiot persists in his error"
Small: Live as brave men and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts
"Live as brave men; and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts"
Small: In so far as the mind is stronger than the body, so are the ills contracted by the mind more severe tha
"In so far as the mind is stronger than the body, so are the ills contracted by the mind more severe than those contracted by the body"
Small: Hatred is inveterate anger
"Hatred is inveterate anger"
Small: Cannot people realize how large an income is thrift?
"Cannot people realize how large an income is thrift?"
Small: No sane man will dance
"No sane man will dance"
Small: Love is the attempt to form a friendship inspired by beauty
"Love is the attempt to form a friendship inspired by beauty"
Small: What an ugly beast the ape, and how like us
"What an ugly beast the ape, and how like us"
Small: Ability without honor is useless
"Ability without honor is useless"
Small: A letter does not blush
"A letter does not blush"
Small: Whatever you do, do with all your might
"Whatever you do, do with all your might"
Small: What then is freedom? The power to live as one wishes
"What then is freedom? The power to live as one wishes"
Small: What sweetness is left in life, if you take away friendship? Robbing life of friendship is like robbing
"What sweetness is left in life, if you take away friendship? Robbing life of friendship is like robbing the world of the sun. A true friend is more to be esteemed than kinsfolk"
Small: What one has, one ought to use: and whatever he does he should do with all his might
"What one has, one ought to use: and whatever he does he should do with all his might"
Small: What nobler employment, or more valuable to the state, than that of the man who instructs the rising ge
"What nobler employment, or more valuable to the state, than that of the man who instructs the rising generation?"
Small: What is thine is mine, and all mine is thine
"What is thine is mine, and all mine is thine"
Small: What is permissible is not always honorable
"What is permissible is not always honorable"
Small: What gift has providence bestowed on man that is so dear to him as his children?
"What gift has providence bestowed on man that is so dear to him as his children?"
Small: A home without books is a body without soul
"A home without books is a body without soul"
Small: A friend is, as it were, a second self
"A friend is, as it were, a second self"
Small: When you are aspiring to the highest place, it is honorable to reach the second or even the third rank
"When you are aspiring to the highest place, it is honorable to reach the second or even the third rank"
Small: A tear dries quickly when it is shed for troubles of others
"A tear dries quickly when it is shed for troubles of others"
Small: A mans own manner and character is what most becomes him
"A man's own manner and character is what most becomes him"
Small: A man of courage is also full of faith
"A man of courage is also full of faith"
Small: To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child
"To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child"
Small: Time destroys the speculation of men, but it confirms nature
"Time destroys the speculation of men, but it confirms nature"
Small: Thrift is of great revenue
"Thrift is of great revenue"
Small: Though silence is not necessarily an admission, it is not a denial, either
"Though silence is not necessarily an admission, it is not a denial, either"
Small: Thou shouldst eat to live not live to eat
"Thou shouldst eat to live; not live to eat"
Small: Those wars are unjust which are undertaken without provocation. For only a war waged for revenge or def
"Those wars are unjust which are undertaken without provocation. For only a war waged for revenge or defense can be just"
Small: This is the truth: as from a fire aflame thousands of sparks come forth, even so from the Creator an in
"This is the truth: as from a fire aflame thousands of sparks come forth, even so from the Creator an infinity of beings have life and to him return again"
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