Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
As fire when thrown into water is cooled down and put out, so also a false accusation when brought against a man of the purest and holiest character, boils over and is at once dissipated, and vanishes.
Interpretation
What this quote means
False accusations against a virtuous person will ultimately lose their impact and fade away.
This quote by Cicero illustrates the idea that a person's integrity and pure character can withstand false accusations, much like how fire is extinguished when it comes into contact with water. It suggests that truth and virtue inherently have the power to quell negativity and falsehood, implying that people of strong character will ultimately be vindicated despite attempts to tarnish their reputation.
Themes
False AccusationCharacterIntegrityTruthVirtue
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech discussing resilience in the face of criticism.
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.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
Nothing contributes to the entertainment of the reader more, than the change of times and the vicissitudes of fortune.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
No one has the right to be sorry for himself for a misfortune that strikes everyone.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
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
Similar quotes
There are people who have benefited from therapy without being confronted with the past at all.
Alice MillerRead
You're never wasting your time as long as you learn from every single thing you do, whether you feel like those attempts are successful or not.
Tomi AdeyemiRead
The important thing about having lots of things to remember is that you’ve got to go somewhere afterwards where you can remember them, you see? You’ve got to stop. You haven’t really been anywhere until you’ve got back home.
Terry PratchettRead
Our words have wings, but fly not where we would.
George EliotRead
It is well to cultivate a friendly feeling towards error, to treat it as a companion inseparable from our lives, as something having a purpose, which it truly has.
Maria MontessoriRead
I've been traveling all over the world for 25 years, performing, talking to people, studying their cultures and musical instruments, and I always come away with more questions in my head than can be answered.
Yo-Yo MaRead