Friendship Quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero
““I have the better right to indulgence herein, because my devotion to letters strengthens my oratorical powers, and these, such as they are, have never failed my friends in their hour of peril. Yet insignificant though these powers may seem to be, I fully realize from what source I draw all that is highest in them. Had I not persuaded myself from my youth up, thanks to the moral lessons derived from a wide reading, that nothing is to be greatly sought after in this life save glory and honour, and that in their quest all bodily pains and all dangers of death or exile should be lightly accounted, I should never have borne for the safety of you all the burnt of many a bitter encounter, or bared my breast to the daily onsets of abandoned persons. All literature, all philosophy, all history, abounds with incentives to noble action, incentives which would be buried in black darkness were the light of the written word not flashed upon them.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Oration to the Senate, 49 BC
Cicero argues that extensive reading and study empower him to act bravely and support others in danger, viewing literature as moral guidance.
In simple terms: Reading gives courage and moral direction.
Key Takeaway
Study to act nobly.
Themes
courage
education
public service
morality
Mood
determined
reflective
Type
historical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- political crisis
- personal risk
- leadership decisions
Key Concepts
rhetoric
classical philosophy
citizen duty
Questions to Reflect On
- How does literature shape your moral choices?
- What risks are worth taking for honor?
A Different Perspective
Reading alone does not guarantee action; context matters.
![“Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. [Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione quidem violari fas fuit.]” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/deb/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_hands_things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched_11960.jpg)
