Difference between revisions of "Cicero"
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Cicero is considered to be one of the greatest orators and speech writers the world has ever known and a father to modern legalists and barristers. | Cicero is considered to be one of the greatest orators and speech writers the world has ever known and a father to modern legalists and barristers. | ||
− | + | ==Roman politics== | |
Cicero was also responsible for unveiling a plot to overthrow the Republic, and his consulship in particular, masterminded by [[Catiline]] among others. In his defeat of the conspirators, however, he set a dangerous precedent; he allowed the conspirators captured in the city of Rome to be executed without a trial. Caesar, among others, was reported to have argued against this by the historian Sallust. | Cicero was also responsible for unveiling a plot to overthrow the Republic, and his consulship in particular, masterminded by [[Catiline]] among others. In his defeat of the conspirators, however, he set a dangerous precedent; he allowed the conspirators captured in the city of Rome to be executed without a trial. Caesar, among others, was reported to have argued against this by the historian Sallust. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Impact of America== | ||
+ | The Founding Fathers studied Cicero in terms both of his rhetorical strategies and his commitment to [[Republicanism]]. | ||
+ | [[John Adams]] in a 1775 series of newspaper articles, employed a rhetorical strategy reminiscent of Cicero in his orations against the conspiracy of Catiline, who plotted the overthrow of Rome. Writing under the name "Novanglus" in response to an eloquent Tory writer, Adams narrated a sweeping tale of conspiracy by Tories and British ministers to rob Massachusetts citizens of their rights and tax them unfairly. In his political letters as a member of the Continental Congress, Adams consciously used Cicero as a model for his style. Cicero's simple, familiar approach matched Adams's desire for his letters to be conversational in tone. This style itself permitted Adams to ponder and explore political issues and reach political judgments. Adams, like Cicero, used his letters to deliberate on important public matters.<ref>James M. Farrell, "Letters and Political Judgment: John Adams and Cicero's Style." ''Studies in Eighteenth Century Culture'' 1995 24: 137-153 </ref> [[John Quincy Adams]] remained inspired by classical rhetorical ideals long after the neo-classicalism and deferential politics of the founding generation had been eclipsed by the commercial ethos and mass democracy of the Jacksonian Era. Many of Adams's idiosyncratic positions were rooted in his abiding devotion to the Ciceronian ideal of the citizen-orator "speaking well" to promote the welfare of the polis.<ref> Lyon Rathbun, "The Ciceronian Rhetoric of John Quincy Adams." ''Rhetorica'' 2000 18(2): 175-215 </ref> Cicero remained influential in the 19th century; his life and works were taught in schools and his life was evaluated in popular biographies. | ||
== Selected Works of Cicero == | == Selected Works of Cicero == |
Revision as of 05:08, August 26, 2009
Cicero (106-43 BC) (full name Marcus Tullius Cicero) was a Roman consul, orator, statesman, lawyer, philosopher, as well as being a prolific writer of books. In the time after the assassination of Julius Caesar, Cicero became one of the most powerful politicians in Rome, and a rival to Mark Antony. Cicero's attempts to rid himself of Antony failed leading to his death while fleeing the Roman heartland due to the alliance of Antony and Octavian. What is particularly spectacular about Cicero is that he was a 'new man'. At that time, the Senate was dominated by the same old, noble families, who were often prejudiced against what they viewed as new, unexperienced upstarts. Cicero, depsite being from a poor unknown family, managed to attain the rank of consul, the highest rank in the Republic at that time.
Cicero is considered to be one of the greatest orators and speech writers the world has ever known and a father to modern legalists and barristers.
Contents
Roman politics
Cicero was also responsible for unveiling a plot to overthrow the Republic, and his consulship in particular, masterminded by Catiline among others. In his defeat of the conspirators, however, he set a dangerous precedent; he allowed the conspirators captured in the city of Rome to be executed without a trial. Caesar, among others, was reported to have argued against this by the historian Sallust.
Impact of America
The Founding Fathers studied Cicero in terms both of his rhetorical strategies and his commitment to Republicanism. John Adams in a 1775 series of newspaper articles, employed a rhetorical strategy reminiscent of Cicero in his orations against the conspiracy of Catiline, who plotted the overthrow of Rome. Writing under the name "Novanglus" in response to an eloquent Tory writer, Adams narrated a sweeping tale of conspiracy by Tories and British ministers to rob Massachusetts citizens of their rights and tax them unfairly. In his political letters as a member of the Continental Congress, Adams consciously used Cicero as a model for his style. Cicero's simple, familiar approach matched Adams's desire for his letters to be conversational in tone. This style itself permitted Adams to ponder and explore political issues and reach political judgments. Adams, like Cicero, used his letters to deliberate on important public matters.[1] John Quincy Adams remained inspired by classical rhetorical ideals long after the neo-classicalism and deferential politics of the founding generation had been eclipsed by the commercial ethos and mass democracy of the Jacksonian Era. Many of Adams's idiosyncratic positions were rooted in his abiding devotion to the Ciceronian ideal of the citizen-orator "speaking well" to promote the welfare of the polis.[2] Cicero remained influential in the 19th century; his life and works were taught in schools and his life was evaluated in popular biographies.
Selected Works of Cicero
- De Oratore
- In Catilinam
- Brutus
- De Inventione
- De Re Publica
- De officiis
- De Legibus
Quotes of Cicero
"Where is there dignity unless there is honesty?" - Cicero
"Nature herself has imprinted upon the minds of all, the idea of God." - Cicero
Cicero did NOT say. :"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."[3]
References
- ↑ James M. Farrell, "Letters and Political Judgment: John Adams and Cicero's Style." Studies in Eighteenth Century Culture 1995 24: 137-153
- ↑ Lyon Rathbun, "The Ciceronian Rhetoric of John Quincy Adams." Rhetorica 2000 18(2): 175-215
- ↑ It's a fake quote that was invented by a newspaper in 1986. Paul F. Boller and John George, They Never Said It: A Book of Fake Quotes, Misquotes, and Misleading Attributions (1990) p. 14