Cicero on Social Media

By Michael May

Shakespeare's opinion on Surviving Adolescence; Darwin's thoughts on Diet and Muscle Growth; Jesus on how to get Promoted at Work; Marcus Aurelius on Finding Purpose; Pliny on Parenting; Adam Smith on High Taxes; and Cicero on Social Media. This book of quotations highlights how many of today's seemingly modern problems have been solved hundreds

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael May
• Release date: May 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798218015336

Book preview

Preface

test everything that is said and hold on to what is good

Paul the Apostle, AD c.5-c.67

While it may seem that our generation faces new and unique problems, despite many changes in technology and circumstances, humanity itself has changed little. For many of today’s problems, some remarkably similar situations have been met and overcome in the past.

This book offers a cross-section of relevant quotations recounting how some of the greatest thinkers of the past addressed problems comparable to those of the present. Of course these thoughts should not be considered a prescription - things have and will change, and what worked before may not work again. But if we fail to recognize what has been learned in the past, we force ourselves as a society to relearn these lessons at potentially great cost and suffering. Rather, we should start with the assumption that what has worked well in the past is the best place to start looking for what works now.

Other than occasional bracketed text to clarify some context not apparent in the quote, little effort has been made to interpret the text - wherever possible the authors speak for themselves. In some cases, when the relevance of the quotation to the subject may not be clear at first reading, footnotes have been added to draw the reader’s attention to the perspective of interest.

Let this book be a short reminder to learn from those who have come before us, to test everything that is said, and to hold on to what is good.

1  on Social Media and Friendship

But most people unreasonably, not to speak of modesty, want such a friend as they are unable to be themselves, and expect from their friends what they do not themselves give. The fair course is first to be good yourself, and then to look out for another of like character.

Cicero, 106–43 BC

When, then, a friend meets with an opportunity of depositing a secret in the breast of another, he, in his turn, seeks to share in the same pleasure. He is entreated, to be sure, to say nothing to anybody; and such a condition, if taken in the strict sense of the words, would immediately cut short the chain of these gratifications: but general practice has determined that it only forbids the entrusting of a secret to everybody but one equally confidential friend, imposing upon him, of course, the same conditions. Thus, from confidential friend to confidential friend, the secret threads its way along this immense chain, until, at last, it reaches the ear of him or them whom the first speaker exactly intended it should never reach. However, it would, generally, have to be a long time on the way, if everybody had but two friends, the one who tells him, and the one to whom he repeats it with the injunction of silence. But some highly favoured men there are who reckon these blessings by the hundred, and when the secret comes into the hands of one of these, the circles multiply so rapidly that it is no longer possible to pursue them.

Alessandro Manzoni, 1785–1873

Hippolytus: Two things I know on earth: God’s worship first; next, to wind friends about me, few, that thirst to hold them clean of all unrighteousness.

Euripides, 480 or 485–406 BC

Nothing is more disgraceful than a wolfish friendship. Avoid this most of all.

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, AD 121–180

If a man has frequent business with others, either in the way of conversation, entertainment, or simple familiarity, he must either become like them, or change them to his own fashion. A live coal placed next a dead one will either kindle that or be quenched by it. Such being the risk, it is well to be cautious in admitting intimacies of this sort, remembering that one cannot rub shoulders with a soot-stained man without sharing the soot oneself. What will you do, supposing the talk turns on gladiators, or horses, or prize-fighters, or (what is worse) on persons, condemning this and that, approving the other?

Epictetus, AD c.50–c.138

We must therefore impress upon good men that, should they become inevitably involved in friendships with men of this kind, they ought not to consider themselves under any obligation to stand by friends who are disloyal to the republic.

Cicero, 106–43 BC

But one thing is most admirable (wherewith I will conclude this first fruit of friendship), which is, that this communicating of a man’s self to his friend works two contrary effects; for it doubles joys, and cuts griefs in halves. For there is no man that imparts his joys to his friend, but he joys the more; and no man that imparts his griefs to his friend, but he grieves the less.

Francis Bacon, 1561–1626

He that has many friends, has no friends.

Æsop, c.600 BC

It is not in human nature to be indifferent to political power; and if the price men have to pay for it is the sacrifice of friendship, they think their treason will be thrown into the shade by the magnitude of the reward. This is why true friendship is very difficult to find among those who engage in politics and the contest for office. Where can you find the man to prefer his friend’s advancement to his own? And to say nothing of that, think how grievous and almost intolerable it is to most men to share political disaster. You will scarcely find any one who can bring himself to do that. And though what Ennius says is quite true,—the hour of need shows the friend indeed,—yet it is in these two ways that most people betray their untrustworthiness and inconstancy, by looking down on friends when they are themselves prosperous, or deserting them in their distress. A man, then, who has shown a firm, unshaken, and unvarying friendship in both these contingencies we must reckon as one of a class the rarest in the world, and all but superhuman.

Cicero, 106–43 BC

Wouldst thou have men speak good of thee? speak good of them. And when thou hast learned to speak good of them, try to do good unto them, and thus thou wilt reap in return their speaking good of thee.

Epictetus, AD c.50–c.138

In the gymnastic exercises suppose that a man has torn thee with his nails, and by dashing against thy head has inflicted a wound. Well, we neither show any signs of vexation, nor are we offended, nor do we suspect him afterward as a treacherous fellow; and yet we are on our guard against him, not however as an enemy, nor yet with suspicion, but we quietly get out of his way. Something like this let thy behavior be in all the other parts of life; let us overlook many things in those who are like antagonists in the gymnasium. For it is in our power, as I said, to get out of the way, and to have no suspicion nor hatred.

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, AD 121–180

My brother ought not to have treated me thus.

True: but he must see to that. However he may treat me, I must deal rightly by him. This is what lies with me, what none can hinder.

Epictetus, AD c.50–c.138

there are a set of malicious, prating, prudent gossips, both male and female, who murder characters to kill time, and will rob a young fellow of his good name before he has years to know the value of it

Richard Brinsley Sheridan, 1751–1816

The practical principle which guides [most people] to their opinions on the regulation of human conduct, is the feeling in each person's mind that everybody should be required to act as he, and those with whom he sympathizes, would like them to act. No one, indeed, acknowledges to himself that his standard of judgement is his own liking; but an opinion on a point of conduct, not supported by reasons, can only count as one person's preference.

John Stuart Mill, 1806–1873

This great gift also Thou bestowed, O my God, my mercy, upon that good handmaid of Thine, in whose womb Thou created me, that between any disagreeing and discordant parties where she was able, she showed herself such a peacemaker, that hearing on both sides most bitter things, such as swelling and indigested choler uses to break out into, when the crudities of enmities are breathed out in sour discourses to a present friend against an absent enemy, she never would disclose aught of the one unto the other, but what might tend to their reconcilement. A small good this might appear to me, did I not to my grief know numberless persons, who through some horrible and wide-spreading contagion of sin, not only disclose to persons mutually angered things said in anger, but add withal things never spoken

Augustine of Hippo, AD 354–430

I meant to say, is she false? Neither more nor less than everyone who has his own objects to attain.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749–1832

No change of circumstances can repair a defect of character. We boast our emancipation from many superstitions; but if we have broken any idols, it is through a transfer of the idolatry. What have I gained, that I no longer immolate a bull to Jove, or to Neptune, or a mouse to Hecate; that I do not tremble before the Eumenides, or the Catholic Purgatory, or the Calvinistic Judgment-day,—if I quake at opinion, the public opinion, as we call it; or at the threat of assault, or contumely, or bad neighbors, or poverty, or mutilation, or at the rumor of revolution, or of murder? If I quake, what