Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
Not to know what happened before you were born is to be a child forever. For what is the time of a man, except it be interwoven with that memory of ancient things of a superior age?
Interpretation
What this quote means
Understanding history is essential for personal growth and maturity.
In this quote, Cicero emphasizes the importance of historical awareness for individuals. He suggests that without knowledge of the past, one remains in a perpetual state of immaturity, detached from the wisdom and experiences that have shaped humanity. By understanding history, we gain insights that enrich our present and future, as our identities are intertwined with the memories of those who came before us.
Themes
HistoryMemoryGrowthWisdomMaturity
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture about the importance of learning from history, I quoted Cicero to emphasize how understanding our past shapes our present.
More from Marcus Tullius Cicero
All quotes →Those wars are unjust which are undertaken without provocation. For only a war waged for revenge or defence can actually be just.
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Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak.
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Nothing contributes to the entertainment of the reader more, than the change of times and the vicissitudes of fortune.
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No one has the right to be sorry for himself for a misfortune that strikes everyone.
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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.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
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