Letters of Cicero

by Marcus Tullius Cicero

This book is intended for the general reader; its aim is to give a representative impression of Cicero's career and character, of life in his day, and of the changing political scene. Selections from 146 of Cicero's Letters, belonging to the years 62-43 BC, in English translation are arranged chronologically with an introduction, notes, glossary of technical terms, index of proper names and two maps.

Genres: Philosophy, Classics, Nonfiction, History, Politics, Literature

Paperback

First published July 18, 2012

About the author

Born 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.

Reviews

[Nora Barnacle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tek detalj, sasvim nebitan: Ciceron se, određenim danima, dizao sabajle, da prima obične ljude i rešava njihove obične probleme, iako je bio izuzetno važan državnik i to nije morao da radi. Al' eto, voleo čovek. Isto tako, izuzetno se trudio da izgleda k'o da se bogznakako snebiva kad treba da dobije javne pohvale, a iz redova izbija da je više nego svestan svoje superiornosti u odnosu na - pa skoro čitav svet. Da, ima i izlive bezrazložne patetike koji se smenjuju sa izlivima strogoće u maniru "Tišina tamo!" A mene ako se sete za dan bezbednosti - sete.

Ima jedan naročito zanimljiv deo koji se odnosi na Cezara (malo slobodnije preveden):

"A meni stvari ovako izgledaju: imamo posla sa čovekom koji ne preza ni pred čim, a
spreman je na sve, koga podržavaju svi kriminalci, sav građanski šljam i svi oni koji treba da
budu osuđeni i obeščašćeni, skoro sva balavurdija, sva gradska sirotinja i klošari, (…) svi koji se
dave u dugovima – a više ih je nego što sam mogao da pretpostavim. Samo povoda da se čovek
povede za njim nema, sve ostalo je pod njim."

Koga interesuje tematika, svakako ne treba da propusti.
Inače, Ciceronova pisma kod nas izdaje Fedon, zanimljiv izdavač, sa puno lepih naslova.

[Jeff Dawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointed.

I enjoyed this collection but found many errors and punctuation issues. I don’t a man as learned as he would have made all these mistakes. I did take into consideration the time they were written and how the Latin translation could have been bungled, but not to the degree I came across. Looking forward to reading a much more complete better compiled version: “Cicero—Political Speeches,” by D.H. Berry

Three Stars

[Ivan]

Un’antologia del corposissimo Epistolario. Un ritorno alle letture scolastiche delle superiori. Tullio, Tulliola, Terenzia, Attico e Dolabella, ave atque vale... Una fatica non faticosa, amata, quelle traduzioni delle lettere ciceroniane, che facevano allora, per me, tanto glamour... Ero ancora innamorato di Cicerone. Adesso molto meno. O no?

[Francesco Bernardoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Permettono, tali lettere, di studiare il periodo della congiura di Catilina, del primo e del secondo triumvirato tramite uno dei più noti protagonisti.

[Ken Ryu · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something to be said for first person accounts. Many of the letters are personal in nature, but others comment on the state of Rome during this tumultuous and historical era. This is the era of larger than life personalities. Crassus, the richest man in Rome, Julius Caesar, Pompey, Cato, Marcus Antonius, Octavius and Brutus are among the associates and confidants of this verbose, proud, intelligent, powerful and eloquent statesman.

Through the letters we see the volatile politics as the 1st triumvirate of Pompey, Crassus and Caesar threaten the pseudo-democracy of Rome. We observe various war campaigns such as Caesar's conquest of Gaul in real-time. Politics in Ancient Rome were a brutal and dangerous business. Many statesmen were assassinated or exiled fighting for their causes.

Cicero was a principled man and fearless in the face of adversity. Through his objections to the first triumvirate, he earned powerful enemies and was forced into exile. He also had his property confiscated during this humble chapter of his life.

Following his short exile, Cicero was restored and reestablished as a leading politician. When Pompey bristled at the popularity and ambitions of Caesar, Cicero found himself caught in the crossfire. With both Pompey and Caesar vying for his support, he mostly stayed neutral but ultimately sided with Pompey. Cicero documents the civil war among the two heads of state. Crassus had died before the outbreak of the war between Pompey and Caesar in 49BC. Cicero records the brilliant military maneuver of Caesar as he crosses the Rubicon before Pompey can cut him off from entry into Rome. Cicero commiserates Pompey's decision to flee Rome instead of defending the capital against Caesar's forces. He questions Pompey's languid decisions in comparison to the speed and decisiveness of Caesar. He foretells the fall of Pompey but decides to throw his lot in on the losing side rather than turn his back on his friend and mentor Pompey.

After Pompey's murder in Egypt, Cicero is rightfully concerned with Caesar's opinion of his actions and alliances during the conflict. Caesar is magnanimous in victory and looks to repair their damaged relationship and enlist the influential Cicero to his cause. During this post civil war period, Cicero becomes great friends with Brutus. Despite Caesar's forgiveness, Cicero does not trust the man. He is gleeful when Caesar is killed on the Ides of March in 44BC. His euphoria is short-lived as Marcus Antonius takes control and Brutus is forced into exile. Cicero sees the impending three-sided war between Marcus Antonius, Octavius and Brutus as the vacuum of power following Caesar's murder leaves the state in flux.

He becomes an outspoken critic of Marcus Antonius to his ultimate demise. He is murdered in 43BC with his head severed and shown to Marcus Antonius.

Cicero is a calculating politician but claims to always be fighting for the people and the state. He is fearful of tyrants and boldly opposes actions that would denigrate the authority of the senate against heads of state. Many of his letters discuss his real estate prospects. The vast majority are to his close and level-headed friend Atticus. There are also many letters to his younger, impulsive brother Quintus. He likes to quote poetry and passages from writers like Homer. He is well versed in Greek and Roman history and politics. He has high ideals about enlightened governments and policies. He has tremendous self-confidence but often is self-deprecating regarding his pride and ego. He is a profligate writer and tenacious when fighting for a cause. Along the way, he earned the respect of his peers, constituents and leaders. His boldness and integrity were well-known and made his friendship and alliance a sought after commodity. His boldness and loyalty works to his detriment in his choice of Pompey over Caesar and his unwise and unguarded attacks on Marcus Antonius.

We get to understand the life in Rome during this historic period through the eyes of this interesting statesman. The letters are a bit repetitive at times. There are many that comment on pedestrian events in his life. Intermingled in the less interesting letters are semi-oratory gems where Cicero seems to be writing for posterity. The man who is utterly confident in his intellect is never far from considering how to preserve his legacy and wisdom for future generations. With his eloquent and high-minded letters, he has achieved his goal.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Letters of Marcus Tullius Cicero appears in volume 9 of The Harvard Classics, alongside Cicero’s treatises On Friendship and On Old Age. Cicero was a Roman philosopher, politician, orator, writer, and lawyer, and considered one of the great minds of the ancient world. During his lifetime, Cicero saw his country go from a republic to an oligarchy and finally into a dictatorship. There are many lessons that our modern world can learn from the history of the Roman Empire. Cicero was in the thick of great changes, and the 36 of his letters collected here (and translated by Evelyn Shirley Shucksburg) provided insight into his age, along with a look into his private life. I found them of great interest.

QUOTES:

“For it is not only the thought of being spoken of by future ages that makes me snatch at what seems a hope of immortality, but it is also the desire of fully enjoying in my lifetime an authoritative expression of your judgment, or a token of your kindness for me, or the charm of your genius.” [Letter X: To L. Lucceius]

*

“For that is the maxim of that same great Plato, whom I emphatically regard as my master: ‘Maintain a political controversy only so far as you can convince your fellow citizens of its justice: never offer violence to parent or fatherland.’” [Letter XV: To P. Lentulus Spinther (In Cilicia)]

*

“...as in steering a ship one secret of the art is to run before the storm, even if you cannot make the harbour; yet, when you can do so by tacking about, it is folly to keep to the course you have begun rather than by changing it to arrive all the same at the destination you desire: so while we all ought in the administration of the state to keep always in view the object I have very frequently mentioned, peace combined with dignity, we are not bound always to use the same language, but to fix our eyes on the same object.” [ibid]

*

“...in all ages it has been rarer to find men capable of conquering their own desires than capable of conquering an enemy’s army…” [Letter XVIII: To M. Porcius Cato (at Rome)]

*

“I have only one last resource — philosophy: and to make her plead for me, as though I doubted the efficacy of a mere request: philosophy, the best friend I have ever had in all my life, the greatest gift which has been bestowed by the gods upon mankind.” [ibid]

*

“The fact is, I would have sent you a letter long ago and on frequent occasions, had I not, from expecting day after day to have some better news for you, wished to fill my letter with congratulation rather than with exhortations to courage.” [XXVI: To Aulus Caecina (in exile)]

**

[Image: Cover of the Delphi Classics’ The Harvard Classics]

Citation:
Cicero, M.T. (2018). Letters (E.S. Shucksburg, Trans.). In Charles W. Eliot (Ed.), The Harvard classics (1st edition) [eBook]. Delphi Classics. https://www.delphiclassics.com/shop/t... (Original work published 1900)

Title: The Letters of Marcus Tullius Cicero
Author(s): Cicero (106-43 BCE), Evelyn Shirley Shucksburg (translator)
Year: 1900 (translation)
Series: The Harvard Classics (1909): Volume 9 - Delphi Complete Harvard Classics and Shelf of Fiction
Genre: Nonfiction - Other
Page Count: 150 pages
Date(s) read: 6/28/24
Book #128 in 2024
**

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given I have no Latin I am at the mercy of the translator but can weigh in on his curating. A fine selection of letters that brings life and insight into the man and his place in time. Rome, in Cicero's day, was where everyone in power appears to have been related in some way, either by marriage or by blood relation or by adoption. Whatever the case, an incestuous environment but notable too for its leaders who were, in part, scholars and soldiers. Cicero being the greater scholar - and orator - than soldier, but not without the stoicism, stamina, and inner resolve of the fighting man. A complicated figure, no doubt, and no less so than his peers in his failings, but that's not the issue, I think. I'll need to read and re-read more of his works. And perhaps far more of his correspondence. This is what I call a beginner's guide to Cicero's letters, provided with historical insight and context for the everyman reader.

[Patricia Mccarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because its Cicero in his own Rite.

Nothing added. Cicero is a cornerstone of modern thinking, in ethics, morality, politics and an example of how to dedicate ones life to the commin good.

[Corey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a huge fan of Cicero and in particular as he comes across in the letters but still an interesting insight into Rome at that time.

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The introduction alone is a great read, but the letters are probably only mildly interesting to the uninitiated (of which I count myself).

[Caramello · Rating 4 out of 5]

You defo need historical context/knowledge 😥

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gathering of letters gives us a recount of yesteryear's life, which is to day much more enthralling and compelling than the one, given in schoolbooks. One becomes really and genuinely interested in Roman history, legislative system, society and potilics only after having read a passionate story, or at least a story one can relate to. Letters, while obviously lacking a central line, still gives us a very in-depth and at the same time day-to-day life story of the makers of Roman society. A good part of the book is centered on judicial affairs, which isn't surprising, Plinius has been a procurator and defender, or lawyer, most of his life. The book can also offer an excellent distraction and consolation to al those, involved in government and international business. You'll see that despite technology advancement, the human nature has changed litte, and judiciary proceeding on stolen public works money or a building of something new was all so entertaining almost 2000 years ago.

[Luís Branco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a kind of book that someone will easily enjoy. It has very few connections from one page to another, well, it is a collection of letters. What makes it especial besides are the contents, which have a lot to say about culture and life at that time, but also about the writer behind the letters. Marcus Tullius Cicero (3 January 106 BC - 7 December 43 BC), which was a Roman philosopher, politician, lawyer, orator, political theorist, consul and constitutionalists. Now we can imagine a man with such a curriculum at that time.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not knowing much about Cicero except that he was famed for his public speaking I thought I'd give it a go as I had nothing else at hand. There are some lovely letters to his wife and his brother but mostly the letters involve roman politics, Caesars ambition, Crassus's and Pompey's slyness, his various allies and opponents. Its all very fascinating and would be a great accompaniment to a book about the great mans life.

[Ségolène · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating view on one of Rome's most influential thinkers: it's easy to forget that some of the most accomplished figures of the past also faced hardships and defamation. The letters are incredibly personal, emotional and yet insightful. Four stars for the insane amount of typos in the text.

[Onyango Makagutu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it

[Ι.Γ. Θωμάς · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suum cuique.