Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
It might be pardonable to refuse to defend some men, but to defend them negligently is nothing short of criminal.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Negligently defending someone is a serious moral failure, even if refusing to defend them is understandable.
This quote by Cicero emphasizes the importance of responsibility in one’s actions, especially when dealing with matters of justice. It asserts that while it may be acceptable to not come to the aid of certain individuals, doing so without due diligence or care is an ethical breach, potentially leading to severe consequences not just for the individual in question, but for society as a whole.
Themes
DefenseNegligenceJusticeEthicsResponsibility
In practice
Example use cases
During a law lecture discussing the responsibilities of defense attorneys.
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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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.
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