Marcus Tullius Cicero Quotes About History

Quotes about: History

• A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero

  Moving, Tyrants, World Government

  Speaking to the Roman Senate, as recorded by Sallust in The Catiline War (c. 40 b.c.). This quotation is a favorite of CIA counterintelligence officers.

• Not to know what has been transacted in former times is to continue always a child.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero

  Children, Infancy Is, History

• History is indeed the witness of the times, the light of truth.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero

  Light, History, Witness

• History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquities. 


  Marcus Tullius Cicero

  Memories, Reality, History

• History is truely the witness of times past, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero

  Teacher, Memories, Light

  "On the Orator". Book by Marcus Tullius Cicero, 55 BC.

• Who does not know that the first law of historical writing is the truth.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero

  Writing, Law, History

• When confronted by a hungry wolf, it is unwise to goad the beast, as Cato would have us do. But it is equally unwise to imagine the snarling animal a friend and offer your hand, as Pompey does." "Perhaps you would have us climb a tree!

  Marcus Tullius Cicero

  Animal, Hands, History

• Please go on, make your threats. I don't like to submit to mere implication.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero

  History, Historical, Goes On

• Who doesn't know that the first law of history is not to dare to say anything false, and the second is not to refrain from saying anything true?

  Marcus Tullius Cicero

  Inspirational, Motivational, Law

• Probabilities direct the conduct of the wise man.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero

  Wise, Art, Philosophy

• The causes of events are ever more interesting than the events themselves.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero

  Inspirational, Motivational, History

  Epistolae ad atticum Book IX, Section 5

• Who does not know history's first law to be that an author must not dare to tell anything but the truth? And its second that he must make bold to tell the whole truth? That there must be no suggestion of partiality anywhere in his writings? Nor of malice?

  Marcus Tullius Cicero

  Truth, Writing, Law

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