Skip to content

Alas Quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero

“It is disgraceful when the passers-by exclaim, "O ancient house! alas, how unlike is thy present master to thy former one.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero
Download Open image
“It is disgraceful when the passers-by exclaim, "O ancient house! alas, how unlike is thy present master to thy former one.”

Marcus Tullius Cicero

About This Quote

Source Speech: “On the House of the Ancients”, Cicero, 44 BC

People lament how the current master of an old house differs from its former owner, expressing nostalgia for the past.

In simple terms: People compare present to past and feel loss.

Key Takeaway

Appreciate change while honoring history.

Themes

nostalgia change heritage

Mood

reflective melancholic

Type

historical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • real estate
  • family inheritance
  • cultural preservation
  • urban development

Key Concepts

history philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

  • What makes the past seem better?
  • How can we balance tradition with progress?
A Different Perspective

Idealizing the past can ignore present benefits.

4.9 out of 5 (3 ratings)

More by Marcus Tullius Cicero

Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes

More Alas quotes

Browse all 453 Alas quotes