Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
The mind becomes accustomed to things by the habitual sight of them, and neither wonders nor inquires about the reasons for things it sees all the time.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Familiarity can lead to complacency and a lack of inquiry into the nature of things.
Cicero's quote highlights how repeated exposure to certain sights or experiences can dull our sense of curiosity and wonder. When we become accustomed to something, we often stop questioning its existence or understanding its significance, which reinforces a passive acceptance of our surroundings rather than an active engagement with the world.
Themes
MindHabitCuriosityFamiliarityInquiry
In practice
Example use cases
A teacher might use this quote to encourage students to question the information they take for granted.
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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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