Quotations From MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO

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• 21.

  An innocent man, if accused, can be acquitted; a guilty man, unless accused, cannot be condemned. It is, however, more advantageous to absolve an innocent than not to prosecute a guilty man.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.), Roman orator, philosopher, statesman. Pro Roscio Amerino, 56.
• 22.

  Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.), Roman orator, philosopher, statesman. Tusculanae Disputationes, I, ii, 44.
  
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• 23.

  In fact the whole passion ordinarily termed love (and heaven help me if I can think of any other term to apply to it) is of such exceeding triviality that I see nothing that I think comparable with it.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.), Roman orator, philosopher, statesman. Tusculanae Disputationes, IV, 68.
  
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• 24.

  Rather leave the crime of the guilty unpunished than condemn the innocent.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.), Roman orator, philosopher, statesman. Ulpianus, Digesta, V, 6.
  
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• 25.

  Not cohabitation but consensus constitutes marriage.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.), Roman orator, philosopher, statesman. Ulpianus, Digesta, XL, 9.
  
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• 26.

  To some extent I liken slavery to death.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.), Roman orator, philosopher, statesman. Ulpianus, Digesta, L, 17.
  
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• 27.

  The long time to come when I shall not exist has more effect on me than this short present time, which nevertheless seems endless.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.), Roman orator, philosopher, statesman. XII, 18, 1.
  
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• 28.

  When trying a case [the famous judge] L. Cassius never failed to inquire "Who gained by it?" Man's character is such that no one undertakes crimes without hope of gain.

  Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.), Roman orator, philosopher, statesman. Pro Roscio Amerino, 84.
  
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• 29.

  O wretched man, wretched not just because of what you are, but also because you do not know how wretched you are!

  Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.), Roman orator, philosopher, statesman. Phillippica, XIII, xvii, 34.
• 30.

  To whose gain? [Cui bono]

  Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.), Roman orator, philosopher. Pro Milone, ch. 12, sct. 32 (44-43 B.C.). quoting the tribune L. Cassius Longinus, when urging the voters how to decide; the phrase is often misapplied as meaning "what's the good?"