Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
Sweet is the memory of past troubles.
Interpretation
Memory can help us appreciate the difficult times we have overcome.
This quote by Cicero reflects the idea that our memories, especially of challenging times, can become cherished as they contribute to our growth and resilience. By overcoming troubles, we may come to view those experiences with a sense of sweetness, recognizing their role in shaping who we are and allowing us to appreciate the present more deeply.
In practice
In a speech about resilience, one might quote Cicero to emphasize the value of looking back at past hardships.
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.
Miracle workers learn to keep their own counsel. Something that's important to know about spiritual wisdom is that, when spoken at the wrong time, in the wrong place, or to the wrong person, the one who speaks sounds more like a fool than a wise one.
I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind. βAt these times, I use the Pensieve. One simply siphons the excess thoughts from oneβs mind, pours them into the basin, and examines them at oneβs leisure. It becomes easier to spot patterns and links, you understand, when they are in this form.
Apprehension, uncertainty, waiting, expectation, fear of surprise, do a patient more harm than any exertion.
Never bring the problem solving stage into the decision making stage. Otherwise, you surrender yourself to the problem rather than the solution.
So long as we believe in our heart of hearts that our capacity is limited and we grow anxious and unhappy, we are lacking in faith. One who truly trusts in God has no right to be anxious about anything.
Talking much is a sign of vanity, for the one who is lavish with words is cheap in deeds.
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