Category Archives: Cicero

The Laws of Tyrants

Posted on October 8, 2021 by Matthew Phillips

“Most foolish of all is the belief that everything decreed by the institutions or laws of a particular country is just.  What if the laws are the laws of tyrants?  If the notorious Thirty* had wished to impose their laws … Continue reading →

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Mercy in Moderation

Posted on May 7, 2021 by Matthew Phillips

In 1534 Martin Luther published a commentary on Psalm 101.  He used this commentary as an opportunity to write a manual for the Christian prince.  In August 1532, John Frederick the Magnanimous became the Electoral Duke of Saxony with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristotle, Cicero, Martin Luther, Politics | Leave a comment

True Law and Genuine Justice

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Matthew Phillips

“For there is a fellowship that is extremely widespread, shared by all with all (even if this has often been said, it ought to be said still more often); a closer one exists among of those of the same nation, … Continue reading →

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Reason and Wisdom

Posted on February 11, 2018 by Matthew Phillips

“The creature of foresight, wisdom, variety, keenness, memory, endowed with reason and judgement, which we call man, was created by the supreme god to enjoy a remarkable status.  Of all the types and species of living creatures he is the … Continue reading →

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Students of Wisdom

Posted on November 3, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

“Some of us are enslaved to glory, others to money.  But there are also a few people who devote themselves wholly to the study of the universe, believing everything else to be trivial in comparison.  These call themselves students of … Continue reading →

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True Friendship

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Matthew Phillips

“Now I think the word amicus [friend] comes from the word amor [love], and amicitia [friendship] from amicus.  For love is a certain “affection” of the rational soul whereby it seeks and eagerly strives after some object to possess it … Continue reading →

Posted in Aelred of Rievaulx, Cicero, friendship, Love | Leave a comment

The Show Must Go On

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Matthew Phillips

“Finally, make sure that your entire campaign is full of pomp, glamorous, eye-catching, and popular, that it has the maximum visibility and prestige.  Also, be sure if at all possible that your competitors acquire a bad reputation for vice, or … Continue reading →

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Cicero on Just War

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“Something else that must very much be preserved in public affairs is the justice of warfare.  There are two types of conflict: the one proceeds by debate, the other by force. Since the former is the proper concern of a … Continue reading →

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Petrarch on Copying Books

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“Your Cicero has been in my possession four years and more.  There is a good reason, though, for so long a delay; namely, the scarcity of copyists who understand such work. It is a state of affairs that has resulted … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicero, manuscripts, Petrarch, writing | Leave a comment

Cicero on Wisdom and Action

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“The foremost of all the virtues is the wisdom that the Greeks call sophia.  (Good sense, which they call phronensis, we realize is something distinct, that is the knowledge of things that one should pursue and avoid.) But the wisdom … Continue reading →

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