Quotes from Cicero's DE ORATORE BOOK I

Cicero's fictional dialogue about advocacy and the common law, including an attack on the legal profession of his time.

The Latin quotes are selected for interest (int), language (lan), and rhetoric (bea), and are translated into English. The line numbers are from the Loeb edition, and start counting from line 0 of the section. All translations are by Gus Wiseman (Nafindix), with the exception of any contributions from other users. The sources of the Latin quotes are:

Loeb Classical Library 348, Harvard University Press, 1942; Latin text with facing English translation by E. W. Sutton.
M. Tulli Ciceronis Rhetorica. M. Tullius Cicero. A. S. Wilkins, Ed. 1902. http://data.perseus.org/texts/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi037
The Latin Library. M. TVLLI CICERONIS DE ORATORE AD QVINTVM FRATREM LIBER PRIMVS

1.0 lan/bea

Cogitanti mihi saepenumero, et memoria vetera repetenti, perbeati fuisse, Quinte frater, illi videri solent, qui in optima republica, cum et honoribus, et rerum gestarum gloria florerent, eum vitae cursum tenere potuerunt, ut vel in negotio sine periculo, vel in otio cum dignitate esse possent.

Often when thinking and renewing old memories, brother Quintus, those men seem happiest who, blessed with a flourishing republic, could recline on their honors and achievements, or at least work without danger.

12.0 int/lan

...ut in ceteris id maxime excellat, quod longissime sit ab imperitorum intellegentia sensuque disiunctum, in dicendo autem vitium vel maximum sit a vulgari genere orationis, atque a consuetudine communis sensus abhorrere.

In other arts, what is most eminent is what is most subtle and abstruse; but in oratory, condescension is the greatest of all crimes.

16.0 bea

...quis non iure miretur, ex omni memoria aetatum, temporum, civitatum, tam exiguum oratorum numerum inveniri?

Who is wrong to marvel that, in all memory of ages, times, and states, so rarely is an orator to be found?

17.0 lan/bea

Est enim et scientia comprehendenda rerum plurimarum, sine qua verborum volubilitas inanis atque irridenda est; et ipsa oratio conformanda, non solum electione, sed etiam constructione verborum; et omnes animorum motus, quos hominum generi rerum natura tribuit, penitus pernoscendi; quod omnis vis ratioque dicendi in eorum, qui audiunt, mentibus, aut sedandis, aut excitandis expromenda est.

The orator must master very many things, without which a stream of words is shallow and vain, and his speech itself reflects not just the selection, but also the arrangement of words; all emotions which nature grants to the tribe of men must be intimately understood, for all strength and strategy of speaking comes from the calming or rousing of the mind.

31.0 int/lan/bea

Quid enim est aut tam admirabile, quam ex infinita multitudine hominum exsistere unum, qui id, quod omnibus natura sit datum, vel solus, vel cum paucis facere possit?

What is more amazing than that there are but a few among the unending race of men who can employ a faculty that nature gives to us all?

32.0 int/lan/bea

Quid tam porro regium, tam liberale, tam munificum, quam opem ferre supplicibus, excitare afflictos, dare salutem, liberare periculis, retinere homines in civitate?

What is so kingly, so liberal, so generous, as to bring aid to those in need, to support them, to give them protection, to free them from danger, and to uphold their civil rights?

33.-3 int/bea

Hoc enim uno praestamus vel maxime feris, quod colloquimur inter nos, et quod exprimere dicendo sensa possumus.

In this alone we stand above the beasts, that we converse with each other, and can express our thoughts in speech.

49.-2 bea

Dicendi enim virtus, nisi ei, qui dicit, ea, de quibus dicit, percepta sint, exstare non potest.

The virtue of speaking, unless the speaker understands what he speaks of, cannot exist.

63.0 int/bea

Atque illud est probabilius, neque tamen verum, quod Socrates dicere solebat, omnes in eo, quod scirent, satis esse eloquentes...

What Socrates used to say is plausible but not true, that everyone is eloquent enough on a subject that they know.

101.2 bea

Namque quod tu non poteris, aut nescies, quis nostrum tam impudens est, qui se scire aut posse postulet?

Who among us claims to know or do what even you do not?

112.0 lan/bea

Equidem, cum peterem magistratum, solebam in prensando dimittere a me Scaevolam, cum ei ita dicerem, me velle esse ineptum: id erat petere blandius; quod nisi inepte fieret, bene non posset fieri.

When seeking office, I often sent Scaevola away, telling him I wished to be a fool, for I intended to be as flattering as necessary for a good outcome.

113.-3 int/lan/bea

Nam quid est ineptius, quam de dicendo dicere, cum ipsum dicere nunquam sit non ineptum, nisi cum est necessarium?

What is more silly than to talk about talking, when all unnecessary speech is already silly?

116.0 int/bea

Magnum quoddam est onus atque munus, suscipere, atque profiteri, se esse, omnibus silentibus, unum maximis de rebus, magno in conventu hominum, audiendum.

It is a certain great burden and task to to stand up and present oneself, when all others are silent, as the one true source, out of the vast assembly of one's peers, who should be listened to on so many subjects.

120.0 int

Ut enim quisque optime dicit, ita maxime dicendi difficultatem, variosque eventus orationis, expectationemque hominum pertimescit.

As well as each person speaks, so the greater he fears the difficulty of speaking, the uncertain outcome, and the anticipation of men.

121.-1

Non enim pudendo, sed non faciendo id quod non decet, impudentiae nomen effugere debemus.

We should contest the charge of impudence not by feeling bad but by not doing what is not proper.

127.4

Non quaeritur mobilitas linguae, non celeritas verborum, non denique ea, quae nobis non possumus fingere, facies, vultus, sonus.

No mobility of tongue is needed, no speed of recitation, nor indeed anything that is out of our control (such as our natural appearance, our expression, and our voice).

128.0 bea

In oratore autem acumen dialecticorum, sententiae philosophorum, verba prope poetarum, memoria iurisconsultorum, vox tragoedorum, gestus paene summorum actorum est requirendus.

Besides dialectical acumen, the orator must have the thinking ability of a philosopher, the writing of a poet, the memory of a lawyer, the voice of a tragedian, even the posture of a great actor.

128.4 int/bea

Quam ob rem nihil in hominum genere rarius perfecto oratore inveniri potest.

In the tribe of men nothing is found more rarely than a complete orator.

151.-5 int/bea

Stilus optimus et prestantissimus dicendi effector ac magister: neque iniuria.

The pen is the best and most eminent tool and teacher of rhetoric, without equal.

151.-3 int

Nam si subitam et fortuitam orationem commentatio et cogitatio facile vincit; hanc ipsam profecto assidua ac diligens scriptura superabit.

If a considered commentary is superior to spontaneous and extemporaneous speech, a diligently refined speech is superior even to that.

164.0 lan

...antea vestra magis hoc causa volebam, quam mea...

At first I wanted this more for your sake than my own.

166.-3

...in oratoris vero instrumento tam lautam supellectilem numquam videram.

I had never seen such fine furniture in the outfit of an orator.

169.0 bea

Quid ergo hoc fieri turpius aut dici potest, quam eum, qui hanc personam susceperit, ut amicorum controversias causasque tueatur, laborantibus succurrat, aegris medeatur, adflictos excitet, hunc in minimis tenuissimisque rebus ita labi, ut aliis miserandus, aliis inridendus esse videatur?

What could be more disgraceful than that the very man who took up this role to mediate the disputes and cases of his friends, to assist with burdens, treat illnesses, and rouse the fallen, should collapse under the weight of the least and slightest of affairs, leading some to pity, others to mockery?

195.0 lan/bea

Fremant omnes licet; dicam quod sentio: bibliothecas mehercule omnium philosophorum mihi videtur Duodecim Tabularum libellus, si Quis legum fontes et capita viderit, et auctoritatis pondere, et utilitatis ubertate superare.

Groan if you will, but my opinion is that, if you care to know the sources and origins of the laws, the little book of the Twelve Tables is superior to all the libraries of philosophers, in the weight of its authority and the wealth of its applications alike.

200.0 int

Est enim sine dubio domus iurisconsulti totius oraculum civitatis.

Without a doubt the home of a lawyer is an oracle for the whole community.

221.0 int

Orator autem omnia haec, quae putantur in communi vitae consuetudine, mala, ac molesta, et fugienda, multo maiora et acerbiora verbis facit; itemque ea, quae vulgo expetenda atque optabilia videntur, dicendo amplificat atque ornat...

Whatever is commonly thought to be bad, hateful, or fearful, the orator amplifies by his words. Likewise, what is openly pursued and desired is amplified and adorned.

231.0 int

Imitatus est homo Romanus et consularis veterem illum Socratem, qui, cum omnium sapientissimus esset sanctissimeque vixisset, ita in iudicio capitis pro se ipse dixit, ut non supplex aut reus, sed magister, aut dominus videretur esse iudicum.

Thus a Roman man of consular rank followed after old Socrates himself, who, being the wisest and most virtuous of men, spoke for himself at his trial, saying he was no supplicant or defendant but a teacher and master, as if the judges themselves were his students and slaves.

233.0

Cuius responso sic iudices exarserunt, ut capitis hominem innocentissimum condemnarent.

The judges were so enraged by his answer that they condemned a perfectly innocent man to death.

233.5 int/lan/bea

quonam modo istos philosophos ferre possemus, qui nunc, cum ille damnatus est, nullam aliam ob culpam, nisi propter dicendi inscientiam, tamen a se oportere dicunt peti praecepta dicendi?

How can we take your philosophers seriously, who, with Socrates condemned for nothing more than his reckless words, yet claim that the principles of oratory are their own?

237.-7 int

Ita est tibi iuris consultus ipse per se nihil, nisi leguleius quidam cautus et acutus, praeco actionum, cantor formularum, auceps syllabarum...

Our learned lawyer is nothing but a prudent pettifogger, a cryer of cases, a singer of scripts, a lender of letters.

248.-3 lan/bea

Nam ipsum quidem illud, etiam sine cognitione iuris, quam sit bellum, cavere malum, scire possumus.

Even without knowing the law, one can know the pleasure of opposing evil.

260.0 int

Ergo, ut ad primum illud revertar, sit orator nobis is, qui, ut Crassus descripsit, accommodate ad persuadendum possit dicere.

Therefore, to return to the beginning, let our orator be one who, as Crassus described it, can speak persuasively.

265.7 int/bea

Et, cum exsurgeret, simul arridens: Neque enim, inquit, tam mihi molestus fuit, quod ius nostrum civile pervellit, quam iucundus, quod se id nescire confessus est.

And, laughing as he rose, Scaevola said that he was not so much bothered by Antonius's attack on the common law, as amused by his confession to not knowing it.