Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.
Interpretation
True passion should be guided by reason; without reason, passion can lead to unwise actions.
This quote by Cicero underscores the importance of balancing passion with rational thought. It suggests that while passion fuels ambition and creativity, it should not dominate our decisions entirely, as acting solely on passion without the temperance of reason can lead to poor judgment and outcomes. Therefore, the most effective use of passion is when it operates in harmony with reason, allowing one to pursue goals intelligently and thoughtfully.
In practice
This quote can be used during a motivational talk about finding the right balance in pursuing goals.
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.
Like every beginner, I have thought you could beat, pummel and thrash an idea into existence. Under such treatment, of course, any decent idea folds up its paws, turns on its back, fixes its eyes on eternity, and dies.
Power is not happiness. Security and peace are more to be desired than a name at which nations tremble.
Everyone ought to bear patiently the results of his own conduct.
No amount of anxiety makes any difference to anything that is going to happen.
So as grave and learned men may doubt, without any imputation to them; for the most learned doubteth most, and the more ignorant for the most part are the more bold and peremptory.
And the quality of good judgement is clearly a form of knowledge and skill, as it is because of knowledge and not because of ignorance that we judge well.
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