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Political Speeches
Cicero (106-43 BC) was the greatest orator of the ancient world and a leading politician of the closing era of the Roman republic. This book presents with nine of his speeches that reflect the development, variety, and drama of his political career. Among them are two speeches from his prosecution of Verres, a corrupt and cruel governor of Sicily; four speeches against the conspirator Catiline; and the Second Philippic , the famous denunciation of Mark Antony, which cost Cicero his life. Also included are On the Command of Gnaeus Pompeius , in which he praises the military successes of Pompey, and For Marcellus , a panegyric in praise of the dictator Julius Caesar.
These new translations preserve Cicero's oratorical brilliance and achieve new standards of accuracy. A general introduction outlines Cicero's public career, and separate introductions explain the political significance of each of the speeches. This edition also provides an up-to-date scholarly bibliography, glossary and two maps. Together with the companion volume of Defense Speeches , this edition provides an unparalleled sampling of Cicero's achievements.
These new translations preserve Cicero's oratorical brilliance and achieve new standards of accuracy. A general introduction outlines Cicero's public career, and separate introductions explain the political significance of each of the speeches. This edition also provides an up-to-date scholarly bibliography, glossary and two maps. Together with the companion volume of Defense Speeches , this edition provides an unparalleled sampling of Cicero's achievements.
345 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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439 people want to read
About the author
Marcus Tullius Cicero
8,067 books1,972 followersBorn 3 January 106 BC, Arpinum, Italy
Died 7 December 43 BC (aged 63), Formia, Italy
Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. Cicero is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.
Alternate profiles:
Cicéron
Marco Tullio Cicerone
Cicerone
Note: All editions should have Marcus Tullius Cicero as primary author. Editions with another name on the cover should have that name added as secondary author.
Died 7 December 43 BC (aged 63), Formia, Italy
Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. Cicero is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.
Alternate profiles:
Cicéron
Marco Tullio Cicerone
Cicerone
Note: All editions should have Marcus Tullius Cicero as primary author. Editions with another name on the cover should have that name added as secondary author.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 23, 2025
In 2,000 plus years, politics has not changed much. One of the most competent senators of ancient Rome, Marcus Tullius Cicero dealt with murderous assassins, would-be despots, and snarky fellow legislators -- just like today. Political Speeches contains a prosecution of a corrupt governor, an appreciation of Gnaeus Ptolemy for his generalship, four essays regarding the Catiline Conspiracy, an appreciation of Julius Caesar's clemency, and a savage attack on Mark Antony.
Cicero is always interesting, though sometimes he is a bit naive. He thought that his role in quashing the Catiline Conspiracy would make him forever regarded as the savior of his country. But I guess the question, "Yes but what have you done for us lately?" had not yet been discovered.
In the end, Cicero was ordered killed by a vindictive Mark Antony for the senator's attack on him in Philippic II.
Cicero is always interesting, though sometimes he is a bit naive. He thought that his role in quashing the Catiline Conspiracy would make him forever regarded as the savior of his country. But I guess the question, "Yes but what have you done for us lately?" had not yet been discovered.
In the end, Cicero was ordered killed by a vindictive Mark Antony for the senator's attack on him in Philippic II.
Read
December 10, 2017I picked up this book mainly to get a closer look at the second Phillipic as mentioned in Goldworthy's excellent biography on Augustus and of course in the must-read trilogy about Cicero by Robert Harris. This speech eventually led to the assassination of Cicero instigated by Marcus Antonius (with Octavianus doing nothing to prevent it). The translation is very readable - quite modern really - with a short introduction on the speeches contained in this book. Recommendable.
June 19, 2024
eh, reading the introduction before each speech was more interesting than the speeches themselves. I'm sure some of the effect is lost in translation, but the character assassinations felt cartoonishly exaggerated and actually made me sympathize somewhat with his antagonists because I wasn't sure what was true and what was political (the introductions attempt to explain this as far as we know).
I don't think Cicero's style is something that would be very effective today, or at least not stand out like it did, but perhaps that is a testament to his lasting influence. This felt like the ancient equivalent of watching a pundit on cable TV talk badly about the opposition. Completely one-sided, at times contradicting himself to paint every positive attribute of the antagonist as really a vice, every intention and action as the greatest evil and threat to Rome.
2 stars because it was just ok and mildly interesting. Useful for late republic historical information, roman politics, and ancient trial information. Don't expect life-changing rhetorical tactics unless you are planning to become a partisan pundit.
I don't think Cicero's style is something that would be very effective today, or at least not stand out like it did, but perhaps that is a testament to his lasting influence. This felt like the ancient equivalent of watching a pundit on cable TV talk badly about the opposition. Completely one-sided, at times contradicting himself to paint every positive attribute of the antagonist as really a vice, every intention and action as the greatest evil and threat to Rome.
2 stars because it was just ok and mildly interesting. Useful for late republic historical information, roman politics, and ancient trial information. Don't expect life-changing rhetorical tactics unless you are planning to become a partisan pundit.
March 12, 2017
If there is a single antidote to the late-modern malaise of relativism, populism, anarchy-capitalism, and secularism, it might well be Cicero. At least, that is a thesis I am becoming more and more committed to. It isn't simply for the sake of conservative classicists who wish the academy to return to some ideal Medieval state, or for some regressive humanists who long for a return to Renaissance humanism, or for those who are simply tired with "post-humanism," etc etc; Cicero literally embodies the whole classical humanist ethos, both in words and in deeds, both in his content and in his style.
Of course, Cicero is not perfect, nor spotless; I enjoyed D.H. Berry's helpful introductions and footnotes that brought Cicero together with the texts of his contemporaries and his later biographers (re: Plutarch), bringing the reader's attention to moments in, say, the Verrines where Cicero's report of Verres isn't entirely honest, or moments in the Catilinarians where Cicero stretches Catiline's wicked character.
Still, Cicero's mastery of the spoken word is ever the guideline and maxim for those who wish mastery of the written word, his argument structures ever an aspiration for those who wish to write impenetrable essays, and his political theory a grand vision for those who hope for a free government. There is so much that we - especially Americans - can learn from him.
This particular collection feels timely in my reading of it - the chaos of Julius Caesar's populist dictatorship (keep in mind, the word means something different in Rome), the corruption in Mark Antony's government following Caesar's assassination - the politics of the late Republic feel tense like the politics of modern America. There is something of a dying republicanism, a failing democracy, and something of a move toward centralized, and terrifying, power. Cicero stands as a witness to the end of the Republic, and he gives both rhetorical and political a tools for us, if we could accept them.
Finally, as a Christian, I delighted in the knowledge that Paul's hometown of Tarsus was a place where Cicero wrote many of his rhetorical treatises, leading one scholar to suggest that Paul's grandfather learned rhetoric under Cicero. The suggestion might be wholly fictional, but the connection is real: there are moments in Cicero's speeches that are directly adapted or referred to in Paul's letters, especially to the Romans and the Corinthians. Cicero's presence in Paul's rhetoric was an unexpected discovery as I read this collection; but it is an exciting and welcome one for me, as it causes me to enjoy Paul's masterful writing even more!
Of course, Cicero is not perfect, nor spotless; I enjoyed D.H. Berry's helpful introductions and footnotes that brought Cicero together with the texts of his contemporaries and his later biographers (re: Plutarch), bringing the reader's attention to moments in, say, the Verrines where Cicero's report of Verres isn't entirely honest, or moments in the Catilinarians where Cicero stretches Catiline's wicked character.
Still, Cicero's mastery of the spoken word is ever the guideline and maxim for those who wish mastery of the written word, his argument structures ever an aspiration for those who wish to write impenetrable essays, and his political theory a grand vision for those who hope for a free government. There is so much that we - especially Americans - can learn from him.
This particular collection feels timely in my reading of it - the chaos of Julius Caesar's populist dictatorship (keep in mind, the word means something different in Rome), the corruption in Mark Antony's government following Caesar's assassination - the politics of the late Republic feel tense like the politics of modern America. There is something of a dying republicanism, a failing democracy, and something of a move toward centralized, and terrifying, power. Cicero stands as a witness to the end of the Republic, and he gives both rhetorical and political a tools for us, if we could accept them.
Finally, as a Christian, I delighted in the knowledge that Paul's hometown of Tarsus was a place where Cicero wrote many of his rhetorical treatises, leading one scholar to suggest that Paul's grandfather learned rhetoric under Cicero. The suggestion might be wholly fictional, but the connection is real: there are moments in Cicero's speeches that are directly adapted or referred to in Paul's letters, especially to the Romans and the Corinthians. Cicero's presence in Paul's rhetoric was an unexpected discovery as I read this collection; but it is an exciting and welcome one for me, as it causes me to enjoy Paul's masterful writing even more!
June 10, 2016
In 70 BCE Cicero prosecuted Verres, the Roman governor of Sicliy, for extortion and misconduct and won his case. The In Verrem, translated here, are his prosecution speeches. But if you're expecting something dry and dull, think again. Roman `courts' took place in the forum and were as much a form of public theatre as they were part of the judicial process.
Cicero exploits that mercilessly and here acts up to his audience giving us gossip, rumour and hearsay as well as evidence: of Verres' libidinous appetites for beautiful girls and handsome boys, of his stealing of sacred and religious objects; of his mis-management of the Roman fleets, and his execution of even Roman citizens.
The translation is sleek and flowing and there's a short introduction which give the context. For the Latin original, Loeb Cicero : The Verrine Orations I, as usual, is the best option, but for a good English translation this is useful. The volume also includes the four In Catilinam speeches, which are useful to read alongside Sallust's Catilinae coniuratio (Sallust (Loeb Classical Library).
Rome has become fashionable again through popular fiction, but if you want a taste of authenticity then Cicero's forensic speeches, however arrogant, pompous, repetitious and slightly bumbling they might be (in my opinion) are a good, and entertaining, place to start.
Cicero exploits that mercilessly and here acts up to his audience giving us gossip, rumour and hearsay as well as evidence: of Verres' libidinous appetites for beautiful girls and handsome boys, of his stealing of sacred and religious objects; of his mis-management of the Roman fleets, and his execution of even Roman citizens.
The translation is sleek and flowing and there's a short introduction which give the context. For the Latin original, Loeb Cicero : The Verrine Orations I, as usual, is the best option, but for a good English translation this is useful. The volume also includes the four In Catilinam speeches, which are useful to read alongside Sallust's Catilinae coniuratio (Sallust (Loeb Classical Library).
Rome has become fashionable again through popular fiction, but if you want a taste of authenticity then Cicero's forensic speeches, however arrogant, pompous, repetitious and slightly bumbling they might be (in my opinion) are a good, and entertaining, place to start.
October 17, 2023
The core of these "Political Speeches" are Cicero's "Against Catiline" speeches during the Cataline conspiracy, but they also contain a couple of court defense speeches, a speech praising Cesar, and a speech mocking Mark Antony. Reading the speeches you get a sense of the powerful orator that Cicero was. You also get a sense of his sometimes exaggerated style when, both during court cases and particularly in his speech against Antony, he basically makes things up in addition to the actual facts. You also get a sense of the importance Cicero placed on virtue and moral behavior, and how starkly Cicero divides the moral from immoral, highly praising those people and behaviors he finds virtuous, and sharply denigrating those he does not.
The editorial introductions to each speech are quite helpful as well in the supportive historical context that they provide. Given the importance of Cicero and the episode of the Cataline conspiracy to Roman history, this compilation is a must read for anyone interested in Roman history.
The editorial introductions to each speech are quite helpful as well in the supportive historical context that they provide. Given the importance of Cicero and the episode of the Cataline conspiracy to Roman history, this compilation is a must read for anyone interested in Roman history.
March 3, 2020
Compelling and fascinating. Cicero’s oratory and invectives are entertaining and good food for thought; a veritable crash course in clever and even devious speech. The Introductions to each speech are concise and successfully convey both information and drama in equal measure. A superlative read for any fans of philosophy, politics and classics.
December 16, 2017
“Look back, I ask you, Marcus Antonius, look back at last on your country. ... I defended this country when I was a young man: I shall not desert it now that I am old. I faced down the swords of Catiline: I shall not flinch before yours.”
November 30, 2016
I did not read all of it, but did read the In Catilinam section. The review of events beforehand was very helpful.
January 8, 2021
Reads as if almost written in the Morden day, so interesting to see the power carried by orators on such a wide range of topics
September 26, 2022
Such a great book!!!!!
November 28, 2024
One of these speeches literally saved thousands of lives; the rest are the fruit of a political and oratical genius.
November 19, 2025
wish i could see young cicero prosecute trump for his involvement with epstein, absolute cinema
March 9, 2022
Cicero made his reputation as an orator in politics and in the law courts, where he preferred appearing for the defense and generally spoke last because of his emotive powers. Unfortunately, not all his cases were as morally sound as the attack on the governor of Sicily, Gaius Verres, which was perhaps his most famous case. In his day Roman orators were divided between “Asians,” with a rich, florid, grandiose style, of which Quintus Hortensius was the chief exponent, and the direct simplicity of the “Atticists,” such as Caesar and Brutus. Cicero refused to attach himself to any school. He was trained by Molon of Rhodes, whose own tendencies were eclectic, and he believed that an orator should command and blend a variety of styles. He made a close study of the rhythms that were likely to appeal to an audience, especially in the closing cadences of a sentence or phrase. His fullness revolutionized the writing of Latin; he is the real creator of the “periodic” style, in which phrase is balanced against phrase, with subordinate clauses woven into a complex but seldom obscure whole. Cicero’s rhetoric was a complex art form, and the ears of the audience were keenly attuned to these effects. Of the speeches, 58 have survived, some in an incomplete form; it is estimated that about 48 have been lost.
August 21, 2014
“Talk about famous. Everyone’s heard of Cicero.” Uttered Titus Pullo before his blade was plunged into the nape of the greatest of Roman statesman. In Cicero’s last moment, surrounded by the mesmerising beauty of his beloved homeland in the sweltering summer, he closed his eyes, as if to retrace all his deeds and accomplishments, to weigh again the burden he had bore for his convictions and love for his country, and to judge once more for himself his conscience before his ascent to the Gods.
Grimly and firmly Cicero signalled to his assassin in wait, “Alright, now.”
Blood poured out of his frail body like the rush of the Tiber. Eagles circled above in an azure sky. Cicero, having served his country tirelessly for 63 years, died in defence of its republican constitution. Perhaps it was for the best. With the passing of Cicero, republic Rome abandoned its last vestige of its founding principles, simultaneously planting the seed for its subsequent expansion and destruction, a prospect Cicero would have abhorred, had he lived to see the rise and fall of the Roman empire.
Television fans would have recognised this long winded introduction an extract from HBO’s remarkable historical drama Rome. While an American TV series is hardly the appropriate conduit for a discussion on some of the most treasured speeches given by Cicero, it does to an extent reflect the undying legacy of his life long pursuit of rhetorical, political, and philosophical excellence. Master of many motifs, and a tutor of men, Cicero represents the pinnacle of a myriad of subjects. But to me, Cicero is first and foremost a patriot. A devote civil servant who gave his life and blood to the betterment of his country, who was determined in the face of danger, dignified in the presence of dictators, and deliberate in view of his dogmas. In this collection of Cicero’s most daring and distinguished political speeches, where we are taken on a journey through Cicero’s scholarly youth, to his glorious suppression of the Catilinarian conspiracy, and to his final, turbulent years of Caesar’s triumphant return and the ensuing chaos of his assassination, I found inspiration.
Although Cicero was no stoic and have often been criticised for his tendency to waver, and indeed he did praise both Caesar and Brutus, anti-polars in the dying years of the Roman republic. Cicero was no coward. Indeed a careful perusal of his speeches yields a man of firm principles, who nevertheless was not afraid to subjugate himself in order to serve his country. He was thus both the last defence of Rome’s founding ideals of liberty and freedom (as reflected in his Philippics and In Catilinams), and the deft compromiser playing deference to the tyrant. But under no circumstances can we find Cicero abandoning his virtues in search of personal gains, even as he praised Caesar, he understood the need of a united Rome, and reminded the regal ruler his duty to his country.
I am far too inept to write to the depth and the necessarily frills indebted to this volume. But of one matter I am certain. As I read through each of Cicero’s pause and exclamations, envisaging the ease of which the senator spoke and gestured to an attentive audience, and knowing ominously his fate as the book closed on the last sentence of Philippic II – “Two things alone I long for: first, that when I die I may leave the Roman people free – the immortal gods could bestow on me no greater blessing; and second, that each person’s fate may reflect the way he has behaved towards his country.” I was moved. Not only by the excellence of Cicero’s rhetoric, but also by his patriotism. That in times of great change and instability, he was ever the vigilant sentinel to his country and his convictions as in peace time, that a true patriot never forgets his obligations to his peers and in all his deeds, be reminded of his duty to his homeland. That to live empty of value is to die continuously, and to die nobly in the cause of country and man, is to live forever.
Grimly and firmly Cicero signalled to his assassin in wait, “Alright, now.”
Blood poured out of his frail body like the rush of the Tiber. Eagles circled above in an azure sky. Cicero, having served his country tirelessly for 63 years, died in defence of its republican constitution. Perhaps it was for the best. With the passing of Cicero, republic Rome abandoned its last vestige of its founding principles, simultaneously planting the seed for its subsequent expansion and destruction, a prospect Cicero would have abhorred, had he lived to see the rise and fall of the Roman empire.
Television fans would have recognised this long winded introduction an extract from HBO’s remarkable historical drama Rome. While an American TV series is hardly the appropriate conduit for a discussion on some of the most treasured speeches given by Cicero, it does to an extent reflect the undying legacy of his life long pursuit of rhetorical, political, and philosophical excellence. Master of many motifs, and a tutor of men, Cicero represents the pinnacle of a myriad of subjects. But to me, Cicero is first and foremost a patriot. A devote civil servant who gave his life and blood to the betterment of his country, who was determined in the face of danger, dignified in the presence of dictators, and deliberate in view of his dogmas. In this collection of Cicero’s most daring and distinguished political speeches, where we are taken on a journey through Cicero’s scholarly youth, to his glorious suppression of the Catilinarian conspiracy, and to his final, turbulent years of Caesar’s triumphant return and the ensuing chaos of his assassination, I found inspiration.
Although Cicero was no stoic and have often been criticised for his tendency to waver, and indeed he did praise both Caesar and Brutus, anti-polars in the dying years of the Roman republic. Cicero was no coward. Indeed a careful perusal of his speeches yields a man of firm principles, who nevertheless was not afraid to subjugate himself in order to serve his country. He was thus both the last defence of Rome’s founding ideals of liberty and freedom (as reflected in his Philippics and In Catilinams), and the deft compromiser playing deference to the tyrant. But under no circumstances can we find Cicero abandoning his virtues in search of personal gains, even as he praised Caesar, he understood the need of a united Rome, and reminded the regal ruler his duty to his country.
I am far too inept to write to the depth and the necessarily frills indebted to this volume. But of one matter I am certain. As I read through each of Cicero’s pause and exclamations, envisaging the ease of which the senator spoke and gestured to an attentive audience, and knowing ominously his fate as the book closed on the last sentence of Philippic II – “Two things alone I long for: first, that when I die I may leave the Roman people free – the immortal gods could bestow on me no greater blessing; and second, that each person’s fate may reflect the way he has behaved towards his country.” I was moved. Not only by the excellence of Cicero’s rhetoric, but also by his patriotism. That in times of great change and instability, he was ever the vigilant sentinel to his country and his convictions as in peace time, that a true patriot never forgets his obligations to his peers and in all his deeds, be reminded of his duty to his homeland. That to live empty of value is to die continuously, and to die nobly in the cause of country and man, is to live forever.
January 6, 2015
Brilliant Work!
If you’re a fan of not just the written, but spoken word and have aspirations in the field of law, I can’t recommend this work enough. His ability to put together an argument and then deliver it with extreme clarity is fascinating and refreshing. Many times I found myself thinking, “this is the way our court system should operate.” Accusers are accused and the facts are laid out without the constant interruptions by defending consul. I would have enjoyed reading some of the rebuttals in the cases, but I’m sure that’s in another work.
Many might think a work of this stature has no place in today’s society with the exception of historical reference. They are wrong. The issues and fallacies of the Roman Republics, 3000 years ago are the same ones plaguing man today. Don’t believe me? Get a copy and find out how morality, corruption, excessive wealth and cronyism were rife then as they are today.
Five stars.
If you’re a fan of not just the written, but spoken word and have aspirations in the field of law, I can’t recommend this work enough. His ability to put together an argument and then deliver it with extreme clarity is fascinating and refreshing. Many times I found myself thinking, “this is the way our court system should operate.” Accusers are accused and the facts are laid out without the constant interruptions by defending consul. I would have enjoyed reading some of the rebuttals in the cases, but I’m sure that’s in another work.
Many might think a work of this stature has no place in today’s society with the exception of historical reference. They are wrong. The issues and fallacies of the Roman Republics, 3000 years ago are the same ones plaguing man today. Don’t believe me? Get a copy and find out how morality, corruption, excessive wealth and cronyism were rife then as they are today.
Five stars.
July 25, 2015
From the incredibly sharp and zealous prosecution against Verres to the popular and well-timed praise on Pompeius, the tone was set for Cicero's entire political career; he was to be forever torn between the optimates and the populares until his very last moment.
The first oration against Catiline was intimidating, captivating, and most convincing; its harsh and severe tone was well justified by the enormity of the conspiracy. The last was well presented and cleverly set up to compel the Senate to adopt one course over the other, without overtly compromising the impartiality required of a Consul. However, I couldn't help but find much of the Philippics petty and too full of pride and personal resentment against Marcus Antonius, a far cry from the calm and logically deduced denouncement in favour of the State (like those found in Against Catiline) that I've come to expect.
A classic by all means. I'm now incredibly excited to read Cicero's other works.
The first oration against Catiline was intimidating, captivating, and most convincing; its harsh and severe tone was well justified by the enormity of the conspiracy. The last was well presented and cleverly set up to compel the Senate to adopt one course over the other, without overtly compromising the impartiality required of a Consul. However, I couldn't help but find much of the Philippics petty and too full of pride and personal resentment against Marcus Antonius, a far cry from the calm and logically deduced denouncement in favour of the State (like those found in Against Catiline) that I've come to expect.
A classic by all means. I'm now incredibly excited to read Cicero's other works.
June 28, 2015
This is an excellent collection of Cicero's speeches, arranged chronologically beginning with his prosecution of Gaius Verres, and ending with his Second Phillipic against Marcus Antonius. Through his speeches (and their informative, well-written introductions and explanatory notes), we can imagine living through Cicero as he experienced the tumultuous final years of the Roman Republic and the birth of the Roman Empire.
While the differences found throughout this collection between life in the Roman Republic and life in modern republics (particularly the United States) can be surprising, it's the incredible similarities that will give readers new perspectives on history, modern life, and Marcus Tullius Cicero himself.
While the differences found throughout this collection between life in the Roman Republic and life in modern republics (particularly the United States) can be surprising, it's the incredible similarities that will give readers new perspectives on history, modern life, and Marcus Tullius Cicero himself.
August 28, 2012
I love antiquity. Cicero was a great orator, really new how to orchestrate words and draw an audience. I read a lot about the history of the cases before reading this book and it just made it feel so...in the moment. Cicero might have been a prude but he was a genious.
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