NationStates Jolt Archive

"A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banners openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their garments, and he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of a city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared." --Cicero, 42 BCE

I think this is one of the greatest speeches i've ever heard, but i want to know what everyone else thinks, and whether or not they understand it.

An interesting speech isn't it? I want you to think about what it means.

Erm... Association is a bad thing in a suspicious society?

Keep guessing. It takes more looking at.

Marcus Tullius Cicero
(106-43 B.C.)

Think about it....it will come to you.

So Cicero doesn't like Julius Caesar (or is it Octavian by now? I'm not so hot on precise dates). This is news how?

Hang on a minute, if he died in 43 how is he making a speech in 42?

So Cicero doesn't like Julius Caesar. This is news how?
Shhhh! Caesar might hear you! :eek:

Shhhh! Caesar might here you! :eek:

Not to worry. I have a very good friend here name of Cassius...

Quoting things without giving any original comment of your own can be seen as trolling, so until you have something to say of your own, I won't be commenting the quote, as it's nothing of yours.

It means Cicero feared the fall of the Republic, and thought that a few individuals were consolidating power. He felt that they scared the people into granting them the power by making the people think that they were the only ones who could save Rome from its enemies. He felt that this betrayed the spirit of the Republic.

Where did you get that date for that speech?

Hang on a minute, if he died in 43 how is he making a speech in 42?

Ahh, someone who actually reads the posts.

It is known that the quote I have used is by Cicero, I just posted it as that. I would assume its common knowledge among you people.

The date might have been wrong on the site I got the speech from.

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The date might have been wrong on the site I got the speech from.
I am just giving you shyte.
The quote is commonly attributed to Cicero--was it really him?
Does it matter is a better question.

Good speech.

I have seen it linked to the actions of various politicians for years--with the same inconsistant date.

Sorry--you offered some food for thought, I was just providing a side dish.

bump

Add your comments or this thread is spam.

I am just giving you shyte.
The quote is commonly attributed to Cicero--was it really him?
Does it matter is a better question.

Good speech.

I have seen it linked to the actions of various politicians for years--with the same inconsistant date.

Sorry--you offered some food for thought, I was just providing a side dish.
Yeah, it was Cicero's speech.

Yeah, it was Cicero's speech.
You know this how?
How can you be familiar with his body of written word when you were thrown off by the date of the man's death.

Just admit you dont know, I did.
It doesnt detract from the statement, or have you found it beyond radicial right and left wing political sites?

Because that is the only place I ever find this quote from Cicero---in the extreme.

You know this how?
How can you be familiar with his body of written word when you were thrown off by the date of the man's death.

Just admit you dont know, I did.
It doesnt detract from the statement, or have you found it beyond radicial right and left wing political sites?

Because that is the only place I ever find this quote from Cicero---in the extreme.

I found it on Wikipedia, though that says very little. I doubt it is actually Cicero.

I have my doubts as well, but I dont know--which I admitted.

It seems a little off from his typical style, but then I read interpretation so that could explain away that inconsistancy.

I found it in Wkik as well, but Wiki is ......a suspect source ....as I am certain you know.

My problem is that is populates only the most radical of sites---when be it Cicero or no, it is still a good speech.

It is just one of those ambiguous leading type things that serves either side pointing a finger when taken out of whatever context it was origianlly written in.

Ya know.

I have my doubts as well, but I dont know--which I admitted.

It seems a little off from his typical style, but then I read interpretation so that could explain away that inconsistancy.

I found it in Wkik as well, but Wiki is ......a suspect source ....as I am certain you know.

My problem is that is populates only the most radical of sites---when be it Cicero or no, it is still a good speech.

It is just one of those ambiguous leading type things that serves either side pointing a finger when taken out of whatever context it was origianlly written in.

Ya know.

It would be easy to make the speech up and then attribute it to Cicero to lend it more weight.

Funny, I think its completely wrong. I think a nation can survive a trator or two, but the stupidity of this administration can damage our nation irreperably.


I'm curious how he defined "traitor," tough. I know it was a long time ago and it was a completly different political landscape, but does he mean benedict Arnold type traitor or does he use the definition Ann Coultier uses, namely, anyone who had differing poliutical views than his own.

Funny, I think its completely wrong. I think a nation can survive a trator or two, but the stupidity of this administration can damage our nation irreperably.


I'm curious how he defined "traitor," tough. I know it was a long time ago and it was a completly different political landscape, but does he mean benedict Arnold type traitor or does he use the definition Ann Coultier uses, namely, anyone who had differing poliutical views than his own.

If it really is something Cicero said, then it would be in reference to either Julius Caesar or Marc Antony, and it would be in regards to their attempts to change Rome from a republic to an empire.