"What an ugly beast the ape, and how like us"

Cicero's quote is a reflection on the resemblances in between human beings and apes. He is expressing his surprise at how similar the 2 types are, in spite of the reality that apes are typically seen as unsightly and unattractive. He is suggesting that, in spite of our distinctions, humans and apes share a number of the exact same characteristics. This might be translated as a suggestion that we ought to not evaluate others based upon their physical appearance, however rather on their character and actions. It might likewise be seen as a pointer that we must not take our own species for granted, which we must value the similarities in between us and other species. Eventually, Cicero's quote is a tip that we need to not be too fast to judge, and that we need to value the similarities between us and other species.