--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must conceive of this whole universe…" description: "\"We must conceive of this whole universe as one commonwealth of which both gods and men are members.\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_commonwealth_we-must-conceive-of-this-whole-universe_3052785.jpg" --- # We must conceive of this whole universe as one… ![“We must conceive of this whole universe as one commonwealth of which both gods and men are members.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_commonwealth_we-must-conceive-of-this-whole-universe_3052785.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_commonwealth_we-must-conceive-of-this-whole-universe_3052785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_commonwealth_we-must-conceive-of-this-whole-universe_3052785.jpg) > “We must conceive of this whole universe as one commonwealth of which both gods and men are members.” [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The universe is a shared community where both divine and mortal beings belong equally. **In simple terms:** All are members of one universal community. Key Takeaway Promote inclusive thinking. Themes philos community inclusivity spirituality Mood thoughtful hopeful Type philosophical political When to use this quote - global governance - interfaith dialogue - environmental stewardship Key Concepts political theory ethics metaphysics Questions to Reflect On - How can we honor diversity within unity? - What policies foster shared responsibility? A Different Perspective Human differences may challenge unity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commonwealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonwealth/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [The brain is a three pound mass you can hold in your hand that can conceive of a universe a hundred billion light-years across.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-diamond/the-brain-is-a-three-pound-mass-you-can-hold-in-your-hand-that-can/) Marian Diamond > [I came to realize I did believe in God. I couldn't conceive of a universe without someone overseeing it in a compassionate way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainn-wilson/i-came-to-realize-i-did-believe-in-god-i-couldn-t-conceive-of-a/) [Rainn Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainn-wilson/) > [Members in the Commonwealth of God are not bound together by the specifics of their religion, for the nature of our interdependency does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forrest-church/members-in-the-commonwealth-of-god-are-not-bound-together-by-the/) [Forrest Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forrest-church/) > [ There is a reciprocal respect for \[ Elizabeth II\], for her interest in the Commonwealth. The members of the Commonwealth recognise that here is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/there-is-a-reciprocal-respect-for-elizabeth-ii-for-her-interest-in/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [“I think there is only one. Oh, there are gods everywhere, in the hollow hills, in the wind and the sea, in the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-stewart/i-think-there-is-only-one-oh-there-are-gods-everywhere-in-the-hollow/) [Mary Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-stewart/) > [Now as of old the gods give men all good things, excepting only those that are baneful and injurious and useless. These, now as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/now-as-of-old-the-gods-give-men-all-good-things-excepting-only-those/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [The race of gods and men is one, and from one mother we both draw our breath. Yet all the difference in our power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pindar/the-race-of-gods-and-men-is-one-and-from-one-mother-we-both-draw-our/) [Pindar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pindar/) > [Gods and men create one another, destroy one another, though by different means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/gods-and-men-create-one-another-destroy-one-another-though-by/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Welcome evermore to gods and men is the self-helping man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/welcome-evermore-to-gods-and-men-is-the-self-helping-man/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The natural gods of men are other men, mythic or real, who embody manhood in men's eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/the-natural-gods-of-men-are-other-men-mythic-or-real-who-embody/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [Men create their own gods and thus have some slight understanding that they are self-fabricated. Women are much more susceptible, because they are completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/men-create-their-own-gods-and-thus-have-some-slight-understanding/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [“Of all the creatures that breathe and creep about on Mother Earth there is none so helpless as man. As long as the gods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/of-all-the-creatures-that-breathe-and-creep-about-on-mother-earth/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Then every man would be as a god, you see. The result of this, of course, would be that there would no longer be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/then-every-man-would-be-as-a-god-you-see-the-result-of-this-of-course/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [“There exists no separation between gods and men; one blends softly casual into the other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/there-exists-no-separation-between-gods-and-men-one-blends-softly/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Gods and men honor those who have fought in battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/gods-and-men-honor-those-who-have-fought-in-battle/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) ## More by Marcus Tullius Cicero > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/gratitude-is-not-only-the-greatest-of-virtues-but-the-parent-of-all/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. \[Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched-with-the-hands-but/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Grief is not in the nature of things, but in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/grief-is-not-in-the-nature-of-things-but-in-opinion/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-has-planted-in-our-minds-an-insatiable-longing-to-see-the-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More Commonwealth quotes > [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [ Brian Mulroney, myself, \[and\] Rajiv Gandhi; I think that was the real core \[of the Commonwealth \]. That was the engine room, I reckon. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/brian-mulroney-myself-and-rajiv-gandhi-i-think-that-was-the-real-core/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [Indifference must be a crime in us, to be ranked but one degree below treachery; for deserting the commonwealth is next to betraying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/indifference-must-be-a-crime-in-us-to-be-ranked-but-one-degree-below/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [Members in the Commonwealth of God are not bound together by the specifics of their religion, for the nature of our interdependency does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forrest-church/members-in-the-commonwealth-of-god-are-not-bound-together-by-the/) [Forrest Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forrest-church/) > [I would like to thank the Commonwealth Games Federation for the very fair manner in which this matter has been dealt with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-collins/i-would-like-to-thank-the-commonwealth-games-federation-for-the-very/) [Kim Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-collins/) > [Though bachelors be the strongest stakes, married men are the best binders, in the hedge of the commonwealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-fuller/though-bachelors-be-the-strongest-stakes-married-men-are-the-best/) [Thomas Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-fuller/) > [Believing that I was born for the service of mankind, and regarding the care of the commonwealth as a kind of common property which,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/believing-that-i-was-born-for-the-service-of-mankind-and-regarding/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [I am prepared to resort to anything, to submit to anything, for the sake of the commonwealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-caesar/i-am-prepared-to-resort-to-anything-to-submit-to-anything-for-the/) [Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-caesar/) > [The civil magistrate cannot function without some ethical guidance, without some standard of good and evil. If that standard is not to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-civil-magistrate-cannot-function-without-some-ethical-guidance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In a divine commonwealth holiness must have the principal honor and encouragement, and a great difference be made between the precious and the vile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/in-a-divine-commonwealth-holiness-must-have-the-principal-honor-and/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [And who can doubt that it will lead to the worst disorders when minds created free by God are compelled to submit slavishly to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/and-who-can-doubt-that-it-will-lead-to-the-worst-disorders-when-minds/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [In Boston, we don't lead by ourselves. We lead as the capital city and economic engine of a great Commonwealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-walsh/in-boston-we-don-t-lead-by-ourselves-we-lead-as-the-capital-city-and/) [Marty Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-walsh/) > [If the situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate, Britain will argue for Zimbabwe's suspension from the Commonwealth at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/if-the-situation-in-zimbabwe-continues-to-deteriorate-britain-will/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [Because silver and gold have their value from the matter itself, they have first this privilege, that the value of them cannot be altered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/because-silver-and-gold-have-their-value-from-the-matter-itself-they/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [What reason is there that he which laboreth much, and, sparing the fruits of his labor, consumeth little, should be more charged than he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/what-reason-is-there-that-he-which-laboreth-much-and-sparing-the/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) [Browse all 251 Commonwealth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonwealth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We must conceive of this whole universe as one commonwealth of which both gods and men are members.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/we-must-conceive-of-this-whole-universe-as-one-commonwealth-of-which/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Commonwealth" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/we-must-conceive-of-this-whole-universe-as-one-commonwealth-of-which/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_commonwealth_we-must-conceive-of-this-whole-universe_3052785.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_commonwealth_we-must-conceive-of-this-whole-universe_3052785.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_commonwealth_we-must-conceive-of-this-whole-universe_3052785.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We must conceive of this whole universe as one commonwealth of which both gods and men are members.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We must conceive of this whole...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/we-must-conceive-of-this-whole-universe-as-one-commonwealth-of-which/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/we-must-conceive-of-this-whole-universe-as-one-commonwealth-of-which/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```