Cicero

It was to eloquence, therefore, that our fathers assigned the foremost rank among the civil professions.

But who is there, pray, that does not in performing a service set the favour of a rich and influential man above the cause of a poor, though most worthy, person?

But we should observe more carefully how the matter really stands: the poor man of whom we spoke cannot return a favour in kind, of course, but if he is a good man he can do it at least in thankfulness of heart.

Why, they actually think that they have conferred a favour by accepting one, however great; and they even suspect that a claim is thereby set up against them or that something is expected in return.

But suppose it is; he may, to be sure, have more money to spend: but how is he any the better man for that?

Still, if he is a good man, as well as a rich one, let not his riches be a hindrance to his being aided, if only they are not the motive to it; but in conferring favours our decision should depend entirely upon a man's character, not on…

The supreme rule, then, in the matter of kindnesses to be rendered by personal service is never to take up a case in opposition to the right nor in defence of the wrong.

For the foundation of enduring reputation and fame is justice, and without justice there can be nothing worthy of praise.

If possible, we should by all means attend to both kinds of service; but we must take care in protecting the interests of individuals that what we do for them shall be beneficial, or at least not prejudicial to the state.

For the chief purpose in the establishment of constitutional state and municipal governments was that individual property rights might be secured.

For although it was by Nature's guidance that men were drawn together into communities, it was in the hope of safeguarding their possessions that they sought the protection of cities.

The boast of official integrity belongs not to that man alone but also to his times.

But to his own house he brought nothing save the glory of an immortal name.

For in fact I had no right to allow myself to be withdrawn from a duty which I had regularly performed, as long as I was well, by any personal misfortune; nor do I think that anything that can happen will cause a man of principle to…

If I were to say that I am not affected by regret for Scipio, I must leave the philosophers to justify my conduct, but in point of fact I should be telling a lie.

To Scipio I am convinced no evil has befallen: mine is the disaster, if disaster there be; and to be severely distressed at one's own misfortunes does not show that you love your friend, but that you love yourself.

For, unless he had taken the fancy to wish for immortality, the last thing of which he ever thought, what is there for which mortal man may wish that he did not attain?

We may conclude therefore that his life, from the good fortune which had attended him and the glory he had obtained, was so circumstanced that it could not be bettered, while the suddenness of his death saved him the sensation of dying.

From such an elevation of popular esteem the next step seems naturally to be an ascent to the gods above, rather than a descent to Hades.

He preferred to adorn Italy rather than his own house.

For to exploit the state for selfish profit is not only immoral; it is criminal, infamous.

They who direct the affairs of state, then, can win the good-will of the masses by no other means more easily than by self-restraint and self-denial.

And how is it fair that a man who never had any property should take possession of lands that had been occupied for many years or even generations, and that he who had them before should lose possession of them?

That is the right way to deal with one's fellow-citizens, and not, as we have already witnessed on two occasions, to plant the spear in the forum and knock down the property of citizens under the auctioneer's hammer.

Moreover, all our thought and mental activity will be devoted either to planning for things that are morally right and that conduce to a good and happy life, or to the pursuits of science and learning.