Marcus Tullius Cicero Wish Quotations

What then is freedom? The power to live as one wishes.

When you wish to instruct, be brief; that men's minds take in quickly what you say, learn its lesson, and retain it faithfully. Every word that is unnecessary only pours over the side of a brimming mind.

If I err in my belief that the souls of men are immortal, I err gladly, and do not wish to lose so delightful an error

It is difficult to set bounds to the price unless you first set bounds to the wish.

A careful physician . . . before he attempts to administer a remedy to his patient, must investigate not only the malady of the man he wishes to cure, but also his habits when in health, and his physical constitution.

If you wish to persuade me, you must think my thoughts, feel my feelings, and speak my words.

He is rich who wishes no more than he has.

Many wish not so much to be virtuous, as to seem to be.

Fewer possess virtue, than those who wish us to believe that they possess it.

In a discussion of this kind our interest should be centered not on the weight of the authority but on the weight of the argument. Indeed the authority of those who set out to teach is often an impediment to those who wish to learn. They cease to use their own judgment and regard as gospel whatever is put forward by their chosen teacher.

Nature ordains that a man should wish the good of every man, whoever he may be, for this very reason that he is a man.

I do not wish to die: but I care not if I were dead. [Lat., Emori nolo: sed me esse mortuum nihil aestimo.]

If you wish to remove avarice you must remove its mother, luxuries. [Lat., Avaritiam si tollere vultis, mater ejus est tollenda, luxuries.]

I do not now so much as wish to have the Strength of Youth again that I wish'd in Youth for the Strength of an Ox or Elephant. For it is our Business only to make the best Use we can of the Powers granted us by Nature.

I remember the very thing that I do not wish to; I cannot forget the things I wish to forget.

Few are those who wish to be endowed with virtue rather than to seem so.

He cannot be strict in judging, who does not wish others to be strict judges of himself.