{"id":1156,"date":"2011-08-08T06:50:25","date_gmt":"2011-08-08T06:50:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/?p=1156"},"modified":"2011-08-08T06:50:25","modified_gmt":"2011-08-08T06:50:25","slug":"ciceros-writings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/ciceros-writings\/","title":{"rendered":"Cicero’s Writings"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are lucky to still have remanants of Cicero\u2019s writings. These writings have left us with a wealth of wise and thoughtful quotes. This\u00a0 quote is a good example of Cicero\u2019s poetic elegance even in the midst of a debate: \u201cO tempora, o mores<\/strong>\u201d (1)<\/p>\n

We still use this phrase today: \u201cSuum cuique<\/strong>\u201d (2)<\/p>\n

His observations are as sharp as ever: \u201cNihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum<\/strong>.\u201d (3)<\/p>\n

If he lived in modern times, he would\u2019ve been an excellent political advisor: \u201cPrimum minima de malis<\/strong>\u201d (4)<\/p>\n

Either that or a philosopher: \u201cOmnium enim rerum principia parva sunt<\/strong>\u201d (5)<\/p>\n

Or maybe even a lawyer: \u201cnoxiae poena par esto\u201d (6)<\/p>\n

He was a proponent of truth and was not afraid to offend members of his society. It\u2019s no wonder his writings are still respected today: \u201cSed nescio quo modo nihil tam absurde dici potest quod non dicatur ab aliquo philosophorum<\/strong>\u201d (7)<\/p>\n

Translations:<\/p>\n

(1) \u201cO the times, O the customs\u201d<\/p>\n

In Catilinam I<\/strong> (Against Catilina, Speech One (63 B.C))<\/p>\n

(2) \u201cTo each his own\u201d<\/p>\n

De Natura Deorum<\/strong> (On the Nature of the Gods III, 38)<\/p>\n

(3)\u00a0 \u201cNothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system\u201d Pro Murena<\/strong> (In Defense of Murena 36)<\/p>\n

(4) \u201c Of evils choose the least\u201d De Officiis<\/strong> (On Duties <\/em><\/strong>III, 102)<\/p>\n

(5)\u00a0 \u201cThe beginnings of all things are small\u201d De finibus bonorum et malorum<\/strong> (On the Ends of Good and Evil V, 58)<\/p>\n

(6) \u201cLet the punishment fit the offense\u201d de Legibus<\/strong> (On the Laws III, 11)<\/p>\n

(7) \u201cNothing so absurd can be said that some philosopher had not said it\u201d De Divinatione<\/strong> (Concerning \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Divination II, 119)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We are lucky to still have remanants of Cicero\u2019s writings. These writings have left us with a wealth of wise and thoughtful quotes. This\u00a0 quote is a good example of Cicero\u2019s poetic elegance even in the midst of a debate: \u201cO tempora, o mores\u201d (1) We still use this phrase today: \u201cSuum cuique\u201d (2) His…<\/p>\n

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