History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life, and brings us tidings of antiquity.

Historia vero testis temporum, lux veritatis, vita memoriae, magistra vitae, nuntia vetustatis, qua voce alia nisi oratoris immortalitati commendatur?

Cicero

On Oratory

More information about this quote

Topic

History

Author

Cicero

Source

On Oratory

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Definition

Language

Latin

Time

55 BC 50s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Philosopher Politician Writer

From

Italy Europe Roman Republic

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. De Oratore [On the Orator]. c. 55 BC, bk. 2, ch. 9, sect. 36.

Current Citation

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. Cicero: On the Orator, Books I-II, translated by E. W. Sutton and H. Rackham. Harvard University Press, 1948, bk. 2, ch. 9, sect. 36.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Cicero about history: “History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality…”
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A quote by Cicero about history: “History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality…”
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A quote by Cicero about history: “History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Cicero

Laws are silent in time of war.

Cicero

Pro Milone

More information about this quote
Topic
Rule of law Law Legal theory Political theory War
Speaker
Cicero
Source
Pro Milone
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Language
Latin
Time
52 BC 50s BC 1st century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. Pro Milone [In Defense of Milo]. c. 52 BC, sect. 11.

Current Citation

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. Pro Milone [For Milo], translated by D. H. Berry. Oxford University Press, 2009, sect. 11.

Another quote about History

Who built the Thebes of the seven gates?
In the books you will find the names of kings.
Did the kings haul up the lumps of rock?...
Where, the evening that the wall of China was finished
Did the masons go?

Bertolt Brecht

Questions from a Worker Who Reads

Read Questions From a Worker Who Reads at marxists.org
More information about this quote
Topic
Great man theory of history Seven wonders of the world Workers History

Author

Bertolt Brecht
Source
Questions from a Worker Who Reads
Medium
Poem
Genre
Political literature
Statement Type
Question
Language
German
Time
1936 1930s 20th century
Authentication Score 2
Citation

Brecht, Bertolt. "Fragen eines lesenden Arbeiters [Questions of a Reading Worker]." Das Wort, 1936.

Another quote from Classical antiquity

Every instant of time is a pinprick of eternity.

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations

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More information about this quote
Topic
Eternity Time

Author

Marcus Aurelius
Source
Meditations
Medium
Personal journal
Genre
Philosophical literature
Statement Type
Paradox
Language
Greek
Time
180 180s 2nd century
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 1
Original Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations. c. 180, bk. 6.

Current Citation

Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations, edited and translated by Martin Hammond. Penguin Classics, 2015, bk. 6.

Another quote originally in Latin

Seize the day, put no trust in the morrow!

Horace

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Read the Odes at Project Gutenberg
More information about this quote
Topic
Living life to the fullest Living in the moment

Author

Horace
Source
Odes (Horace)
Medium
Poem
Statement Type
Advice
Language
Latin
Time
23 BC 20s BC 1st century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Horace. Carmina [Odes]. 23 BC, bk. 1, no. 11.

Current Citation

Horace. "Odes." The Complete Odes and Epodes, translated by David West. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 1, no. 11.

Another quote of the following type Definition

You know what charm is: a way of getting the answer yes without having asked any clear question.

Albert Camus

The Fall

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More information about this quote
Topic
Charm Persuasion

Author

Albert Camus
Source
The Fall
Medium
Novel
Genre
Philosophical literature
Statement Type
Definition
Language
French
Time
1956 1950s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Camus, Albert. La Chute [The Fall]. Editions Gallimard, 1956.