Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
It is the character of a brave and resolute man not to be ruffled by adversity and not to desert his post.
Interpretation
True bravery involves maintaining composure in difficult situations and staying committed to one’s responsibilities.
In this quote, Cicero emphasizes that a brave and determined individual remains steadfast when faced with challenges and does not abandon their duties. The essence of courage lies in resilience—facing adversity head-on and standing firm in one’s commitments, rather than succumbing to fear or pressure.
In practice
In a motivational speech about overcoming challenges at a corporate retreat.
Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Those wars are unjust which are undertaken without provocation. For only a war waged for revenge or defence can actually be just.
Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak.
Nothing contributes to the entertainment of the reader more, than the change of times and the vicissitudes of fortune.
No one has the right to be sorry for himself for a misfortune that strikes everyone.
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.
I'm an athlete, yes, but I'm also a woman. I'm someone who kind of, in a way, lost touch with that part of myself after I lost my legs, because there are certain feminine traits you lose when you have prosthetic legs.
I was made, by the law, a criminal, not because of what I had done, but because of what I stood for, because of what I thought, because of my conscience... If I had my time over I would do the same again. So would any man who dares call himself a man.
I was so hooked by the fight for freedom that nothing mattered to us so long as we fulfilled the dream of years and years of our people being liberated. I thought normal life would come the day after.
I expect to plead not for the slave only, but for suffering humanity everywhere. Especially do I mean to labor for the elevation of my sex.
The way I was taught, being black was a plus, always. Being a human being, being in America, and being black, all three were the greatest things that could happen to you. The combination was unbeatable.
A handicap is like trying to race and you have a ten pound weight stuck to your waist. That is a handicap.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.