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Велики оратори #2
Selected Political Speeches
Amid the corruption and power struggles of the collapse of the Roman Republic, Cicero (106-43BC) produced some of the most stirring and eloquent speeches in history. A statesman and lawyer, he was one of the only outsiders to penetrate the aristocratic circles that controlled the Roman state, and became renowned for his speaking to the Assembly, Senate and courtrooms. Whether fighting corruption, quashing the Catiline conspiracy, defending the poet Archias or railing against Mark Antony in the Philippics - the magnificent arguments in defence of liberty which led to his banishment and death - Cicero's speeches are oratory masterpieces, vividly evocative of the cut and thrust of Roman political life.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 85
About the author
Marcus Tullius Cicero
7,603 books1,739 followersMarcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. Cicero is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.
Alternate profiles:
Cicéron
Note: All editions should have Marcus Tullius Cicero as primary author. Editions with another name on the cover should have that name added as secondary author.
Alternate profiles:
Cicéron
Note: All editions should have Marcus Tullius Cicero as primary author. Editions with another name on the cover should have that name added as secondary author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 10, 2023
I found myself wanting to read speeches/orations and this was precisely what I needed to read. I have one major problem with it, it is missing a phrase I was really looking forward to seeing how it would be translated or explained. The phrase is " O tempora, o mores!", I looked in the original Latin speech to see where it should be and it is not , it was disappointing not seeing it. Other than that I like that there are historic contexts at the beginning of every speech.
I was listening to this while reading it => https://youtu.be/s8g-wao16iM
I was listening to this while reading it => https://youtu.be/s8g-wao16iM
September 6, 2021
Proof that Cicero is an eloquent speaker, and a man of words. His speeches here show evidently the skill of the famed orator, skills that made him one of the Late Republic's foremost politicians, and which have kept him famous and well-known two thousand years later.
Grant's translation, I think, does Cicero's eloquence justice, and rarely if ever has what I feel is awkward or archaic.
Favourite speeches:
Pro Caelio
In Catilinam (mostly the First and Second)
First Philippic
Grant's translation, I think, does Cicero's eloquence justice, and rarely if ever has what I feel is awkward or archaic.
Favourite speeches:
Pro Caelio
In Catilinam (mostly the First and Second)
First Philippic
September 12, 2018
I came in expecting irresistible rhetorical firepower, and I got that in spades. What took me by surprise was the sheer range of registers: from the Bravo-like drama and the airing of an opponent's dirty laundry to the sordid, "Dear-Leader"-like prostration before Pompey or Caesar; from self-effacing modesty to breathtaking self-aggrandizement; from established facts to flat-out fiction; from carefully tuned emotional appeals to unhinged hyperbole (i.e., if you disagree with me, the Republic shall fall and we are all going to die). In other words, great.
September 25, 2018
Very interesting. The republic was falling apart at the time.
January 23, 2021
Speeches from the end of the Republic. Cicero proclaims its glories, his achievements, and the venality of their foes.
April 8, 2021
3.5
As always, loved the speeches of Cicero -- and a very fine selection of them was put together in this edition! Perfect for showing the gradation in his own thoughts, and development (or downfall) of Rome.
I was not very happy with this particular edition though, so that lowers the rating.
As always, loved the speeches of Cicero -- and a very fine selection of them was put together in this edition! Perfect for showing the gradation in his own thoughts, and development (or downfall) of Rome.
I was not very happy with this particular edition though, so that lowers the rating.
February 16, 2011
The greatest orator of his day as well as an accomplished philosopher and historian, Cicero lived at the single most turbulent and dangerous period of Rome's history. He knew Pompey, Caesar, Cato, Brutus and Cassius.
A truly modern man - his ego easily flattered, desirous of material wealth and public success, but also strongly motivated by a need to do what was right and just - his political speeches are masterworks of propaganda, spin, inescapable reasoning and emotional appeals.
Reading about famous figures from history is good, but there is no substitute for reading their words themselves, even in translation. And this is a good translation, retaining the biting sarcasm and the fire that made this unprepossessing little man so feared in public court.
A truly modern man - his ego easily flattered, desirous of material wealth and public success, but also strongly motivated by a need to do what was right and just - his political speeches are masterworks of propaganda, spin, inescapable reasoning and emotional appeals.
Reading about famous figures from history is good, but there is no substitute for reading their words themselves, even in translation. And this is a good translation, retaining the biting sarcasm and the fire that made this unprepossessing little man so feared in public court.
December 2, 2017
When reading this I began to see how historians have pieced together Ancient Rome. It's exciting to know that with a little commitment (some would say a lot) one can read the extant primary sources on Ancient Rome and begin to see the world through your own historical lens. Archeology is above my pay grade but I can certainly read a lot.
My favorite speeches were the last two. In Support of Marcus Claudius Marcellus is all about Julius Caesar and the final speech The First Philippic has some fine commentary directed at politicians concerning their reputations. This shouldn't be the first book about Rome that you read but it should certainly be one of them. And thankfully there are several more surviving Cicero speeches!!!
My favorite speeches were the last two. In Support of Marcus Claudius Marcellus is all about Julius Caesar and the final speech The First Philippic has some fine commentary directed at politicians concerning their reputations. This shouldn't be the first book about Rome that you read but it should certainly be one of them. And thankfully there are several more surviving Cicero speeches!!!
June 8, 2021
I can strive to be civiliter. I can only wish to be a cicerone.
March 29, 2023
This book never leaves my side. It contains a lot of the best speeches of the best person in history so obviously it's the best book ever. This and his murder trials travel with me everywhere. Homework doesn't get done, GCSEs are about to be failed, but reading this book comes first. I've read the speeches against Catilina (which are obviously in this book) so many times I can practically recite them and they are the most perfect speeches known to man. Michael Grant is a brilliant translator and I genuinely enjoy reading all his introductions to the speeches and his notes on Cicero's style and meaning, with helpful explanations of the ancient customs mentioned. The translation captures the meaning and the eloquence perfectly, and shows Cicero's attitude brilliantly which is one of my favourite things about him. My favourite translation of his has got to be the Sextus Roscius trial in the murder trials book, as 26 year old Cicero's sass comes across brilliantly and I was genuinely laughing out loud at the 20-something pages dedicated purely to insulting the prosecutor, Erucius (please read that trial I love it so much)
I also love the length of Cicero's speeches, although I probably am among only a few people who love how annoying he is as well as everything else about this man, so if I see any complaints about that or his lack of main verbs I will get so unbelievable angry - he wasn't writing these speeches thinking about the 17 year olds 2000 years in the future translating them for their A levels, and I hate that that's all people remember him for. If I can survive it, even enjoy it, at the age of 15, so can 17 year olds, I'm sure.
And for those of you saying that Cicero was a coward, a liar and a hypocrite, perhaps he was 2 of those things, but he was never a coward. What coward would directly oppose several of the most powerful men in Rome? What coward would die as he did?
He was a hypocrite, but he was an expert one, and no one seemed to notice back then. Also, so were all other politicians who kept their heads for more than 40 years.
As for being a liar, I can't personally prove that he wasn't one, but you can't exactly prove that he was. And, once again, so were all other politicians at that time.
I also love the length of Cicero's speeches, although I probably am among only a few people who love how annoying he is as well as everything else about this man, so if I see any complaints about that or his lack of main verbs I will get so unbelievable angry - he wasn't writing these speeches thinking about the 17 year olds 2000 years in the future translating them for their A levels, and I hate that that's all people remember him for. If I can survive it, even enjoy it, at the age of 15, so can 17 year olds, I'm sure.
And for those of you saying that Cicero was a coward, a liar and a hypocrite, perhaps he was 2 of those things, but he was never a coward. What coward would directly oppose several of the most powerful men in Rome? What coward would die as he did?
He was a hypocrite, but he was an expert one, and no one seemed to notice back then. Also, so were all other politicians who kept their heads for more than 40 years.
As for being a liar, I can't personally prove that he wasn't one, but you can't exactly prove that he was. And, once again, so were all other politicians at that time.
June 27, 2021
Няма да е преувеличение да кажа, че речите на Marcus Tullius Cicero бележат върха на ораторското изкуство. Макар и на пръв поглед някои от тях да изглеждат твърде дълги, то всъщност нито едно изречение не е излишно. Безпощадни както в обвинение, така и в защита, съдебните речи на Марк Цицерон са блестящ пример за единство на форма, стил и един изключително богат речник. И макар (за жалост) подобни речи да са вече не само ненужни в съдебния п��оцес, но и може би досадни за слушателите, чиято способност за концентрация става все по-нищожна, то те са пример за това, че публичното слово може да е много повече от подготвените хартийки, съдържанието на които сме принудени да изслушваме по определени поводи.
Макар и сами по себе си речите на Марк Цицерон да са повече от достатъчни за читателя, мисля, че те биха имали дори още по-голям ефект, ако преди това той се е запознал и с реторическите трудове на Цицерон - диалозите "За оратора", "Брут, или за прочутите оратори" и "Ораторът".
Макар и сами по себе си речите на Марк Цицерон да са повече от достатъчни за читателя, мисля, че те биха имали дори още по-голям ефект, ако преди това той се е запознал и с реторическите трудове на Цицерон - диалозите "За оратора", "Брут, или за прочутите оратори" и "Ораторът".
August 22, 2019
Not what I was expecting. These are almost exclusively speeches either in favor of an individual, or in opposition to an individual, often in a trial setting. The brief introductions to each speech were very helpful and gave excellent historic context. I was hoping for more political theory, but that can only be inferred. The most enjoyable part for me was simply Cicero's opinions and observations as the Roman Republic gasps its final breaths. I kept wondering if he had any inking that both Caesar and Pompeius would seek dictatorial power. From such a short collection it is hard to say this with any certainty, but he only really seems to find his courage after Caesar's death in the First Philippic speech.
This is not a must-read, but it adds fascinating detail to an important sliver of history.
This is not a must-read, but it adds fascinating detail to an important sliver of history.
March 6, 2019
Reading this, I felt like I was a political spectator in the Forum itself. Although Cicero is often contrary, his speech is so eloquent that his pompous and often self-serving words don't matter. I respect Cicero immensely - he was only a knight, but he made his way to the top of the political structure through hard work and intelligence. The language in his speeches are dense, but they're also gripping and revealing. I also found myself laughing at many points - Cicero knows how to craft an educated insult (read his Philippics)! Overall, this translation captures the spirit and climate of the late Republic of Rome. All the politics, civil war, and scandals of the era (i.e. Clodius and his infamous sister) are revealed intimately. Overall, an entertaining read!
May 12, 2021
Good collection of polemical speeches by Cicero, spanning both his legal and political career. A good supplement to the selected works in penguin
September 24, 2022
Timeless.
November 12, 2020
When one is looking for a book by Cicero that explains why it is that he remains a vital and important figure in political rhetoric despite having lived more than 2000 years ago and despite his various personal flaws and shortcomimgs as a republican figure, the way he navigated the late Roman Republic has some obvious relevance for us today as our own period is not too dissimilar from his own. This ought to, of course, make anyone who is a friend of responsible and free government reflect upon the way that republicans fail through government failing to meet the needs of the people and then unscrupulous people seeking to dominate government while others pander to the people in order to increase their own power. By the time that Cicero was politically active the Roman Republic was likely beyond saving, but Cicero gave it his best effort anyway, and this book is testament to the way that he sought to encourage and cajole and encourage the Roman leaders of his time to "do the right thing" over and over again, even as his speeches reveal some of the essential problems of the Roman regime of his time, problems that are very relevant to us at the present time as well.
This book is reasonably sized at a bit more than 300 pages. It begins with an introduction that sets Cicero's public speaking and political career in its proper and melancholy historical context. After that the book contains seven main speeches. First, there is a praise of the command of Cnaeus Pompeius in support of the Manilian Law and the expansion of the Roman Empire into the Middle East (1). After that there is a look at his four speeches against Cataline (2) during his consulate that marked the high point of his power as a practical politician in defense of the Republic. This is followed by a series of defenses, defending the poet Aulus Licinus Archias (3), then Marcus Caelius Rufus (4), and finally, and most controversially, the thuggish but patriotic Titus Annius Milo (5), who was convicted and avoided judgment by fleeing the jurisdiction of the Senate. After that there is a speech showing Cicero's support of Marcus Claudius Marcellus (6) , and then his first and ultimately fatal philippic against Marcus Antonius that led to his prescription and death (7). After that there are some appendices, including a key to technical terms (i), suggestions for further reading (ii), and maps (iii), as well as an index of personal names.
In reading this book, one is reminded of the fact that republican government has always depended to a large extent on the cultivation of the art of rhetoric. Where it is necessary to build a large consensus of people to support something, one needs to have a certain power of words to encourage people to work together and cooperate, unless one is to leave such cooperation to only the baser instincts of corrupt crony capitalism, which is also something that can motivate more corrupt and decadent regimes. Cicero's rhetoric, which was not always successful even if it usually managed to carry the day, reveals the sort of political problems of the late Roman Republic in ways that we can see in our own days, including the need to defend some unsavory political characters (like Milo, for example), because their violent deeds are necessary to counteract even more unsavory violence by corrupt and partisan politicians who abuse their power to support their friends or make life difficult for their enemies. Ultimately, of course, Cicero was unsuccessful and his hostility to the work of Marcus Antonius led to his being put on an enemy list and gruesomely executed for his service on behalf of the late Republic. But even after his death, long after his death, his rhetoric reminds us of the words which are sometimes necessary to make a brave attempt to save what is worth saving, namely the hope of good and responsible government.
This book is reasonably sized at a bit more than 300 pages. It begins with an introduction that sets Cicero's public speaking and political career in its proper and melancholy historical context. After that the book contains seven main speeches. First, there is a praise of the command of Cnaeus Pompeius in support of the Manilian Law and the expansion of the Roman Empire into the Middle East (1). After that there is a look at his four speeches against Cataline (2) during his consulate that marked the high point of his power as a practical politician in defense of the Republic. This is followed by a series of defenses, defending the poet Aulus Licinus Archias (3), then Marcus Caelius Rufus (4), and finally, and most controversially, the thuggish but patriotic Titus Annius Milo (5), who was convicted and avoided judgment by fleeing the jurisdiction of the Senate. After that there is a speech showing Cicero's support of Marcus Claudius Marcellus (6) , and then his first and ultimately fatal philippic against Marcus Antonius that led to his prescription and death (7). After that there are some appendices, including a key to technical terms (i), suggestions for further reading (ii), and maps (iii), as well as an index of personal names.
In reading this book, one is reminded of the fact that republican government has always depended to a large extent on the cultivation of the art of rhetoric. Where it is necessary to build a large consensus of people to support something, one needs to have a certain power of words to encourage people to work together and cooperate, unless one is to leave such cooperation to only the baser instincts of corrupt crony capitalism, which is also something that can motivate more corrupt and decadent regimes. Cicero's rhetoric, which was not always successful even if it usually managed to carry the day, reveals the sort of political problems of the late Roman Republic in ways that we can see in our own days, including the need to defend some unsavory political characters (like Milo, for example), because their violent deeds are necessary to counteract even more unsavory violence by corrupt and partisan politicians who abuse their power to support their friends or make life difficult for their enemies. Ultimately, of course, Cicero was unsuccessful and his hostility to the work of Marcus Antonius led to his being put on an enemy list and gruesomely executed for his service on behalf of the late Republic. But even after his death, long after his death, his rhetoric reminds us of the words which are sometimes necessary to make a brave attempt to save what is worth saving, namely the hope of good and responsible government.
September 6, 2009
* * * 1/2
A solid collection of speeches from Marcus Tullius Cicero. Each one is accompanied by a detailed introduction that puts the speech into its historical context, which is very helpful for people who are not that familiar with Roman history. Footnotes are sprinkled throughout the speeches as well, providing clarification or explaining a play on meaning (for example, on the word "popularis" in the First Philippic, or the "penny" pun in the speech in defence of Caelius), explaining historical references, and indicating passages that come out rather obscure in translation.
Speaking of the translation, this was a very good job. Of course the sentence construction is extremely formal, but then these were being delivered in the Senate and the Assembly, so of course Cicero would want to pull out all the rhetorical stops and speak eloquently, not casually. I did often find myself reading the same sentence a couple of times in a row, but that's what happens when you pick dense intellectual works as bus books. One oddity I noticed was the translator's use of the word "Besides" at the beginning of a clause. Sometimes it did not seem to fit, as if it was being used as the stock translation for a particularly tricky Latin word.
In any case, the book was still very readable and even had some pretty funny lines. Here are a couple of favourites.
From the Introduction (to the whole book):
From the speech in defence of Caelius:
Cicero is not a fan of Clodia, the woman who is accusing Caelius of stealing her money and trying to poison her. She is a widow and sleeps with basically any man in a toga, apparently, even her own brother Clodius (who was alleged to have done it with all of his sisters). So Cicero, when he speaks of Clodius, he calls him "[Clodia's:] husband, I mean her brother -- sorry, I always make that mistake." He probably said that "sorry" while hiding a little smirk. Oh Cicero, you are a pistol.
This book was very illuminating and I learned a bit more about Roman history through the work of Cicero -- perhaps slightly biased, especially in the case of those invectives against Catiline and Mark Antony, but it's more than I knew before, in particular about Mark Antony and Caesar. If you like this time period, give this book a shot.
A solid collection of speeches from Marcus Tullius Cicero. Each one is accompanied by a detailed introduction that puts the speech into its historical context, which is very helpful for people who are not that familiar with Roman history. Footnotes are sprinkled throughout the speeches as well, providing clarification or explaining a play on meaning (for example, on the word "popularis" in the First Philippic, or the "penny" pun in the speech in defence of Caelius), explaining historical references, and indicating passages that come out rather obscure in translation.
Speaking of the translation, this was a very good job. Of course the sentence construction is extremely formal, but then these were being delivered in the Senate and the Assembly, so of course Cicero would want to pull out all the rhetorical stops and speak eloquently, not casually. I did often find myself reading the same sentence a couple of times in a row, but that's what happens when you pick dense intellectual works as bus books. One oddity I noticed was the translator's use of the word "Besides" at the beginning of a clause. Sometimes it did not seem to fit, as if it was being used as the stock translation for a particularly tricky Latin word.
In any case, the book was still very readable and even had some pretty funny lines. Here are a couple of favourites.
From the Introduction (to the whole book):
When the aristocratic Q. Metellus Nepos asked Cicero the snobbish question "Who was your father?" it was understandable, but not calculated to endear a great family towards him, for Cicero to reply: "I can scarcely ask you the same question since your mother has made it rather difficult to answer."
From the speech in defence of Caelius:
Cicero is not a fan of Clodia, the woman who is accusing Caelius of stealing her money and trying to poison her. She is a widow and sleeps with basically any man in a toga, apparently, even her own brother Clodius (who was alleged to have done it with all of his sisters). So Cicero, when he speaks of Clodius, he calls him "[Clodia's:] husband, I mean her brother -- sorry, I always make that mistake." He probably said that "sorry" while hiding a little smirk. Oh Cicero, you are a pistol.
This book was very illuminating and I learned a bit more about Roman history through the work of Cicero -- perhaps slightly biased, especially in the case of those invectives against Catiline and Mark Antony, but it's more than I knew before, in particular about Mark Antony and Caesar. If you like this time period, give this book a shot.
July 30, 2020
Perfect
May 27, 2016
If you want to get an idea of why Cicero is such an intriguing and human historical figure, I recommend Robert Harris' novels. If you want to get an idea of why Cicero is regarded as one of the greatest rhetoricians of all time, and certainly the greatest Latin rhetorician, I recommend reading him in Latin. If you don't know Latin and don't have time to learn (although I sometimes wonder how people who don't know Latin manage to use adequate English) then you could do much worse than the Penguin Classics editions of some of his finer speeches.
May 17, 2018
I hate to give Cicero a three star review, but this Penguin translation (Penguin is usually solid) absolutely murdered Cicero's prose. After reading about 145 pages, and realizing that something was missing, I decided to download a free eBook of Cicero's works, translated by C.D. Yonge, and the difference was so profound, I wonder how Penguin could have even let this be published.
Go for the 19th century translations, when people wrote with soul. Cicero won't translate right otherwise.
That being said, it's Cicero.
Go for the 19th century translations, when people wrote with soul. Cicero won't translate right otherwise.
That being said, it's Cicero.
April 6, 2008
Cicero was the master of political rhetoric. A titan of oratory, perhaps only equaled by his nemesis Julius Caesar.
Anyone wishing to capture a glimpse of the political environment of pre-imperial Rome, and/or learn how to fashion great speeches, this book is a great place to start.
Long live Cicero!
Anyone wishing to capture a glimpse of the political environment of pre-imperial Rome, and/or learn how to fashion great speeches, this book is a great place to start.
Long live Cicero!
December 5, 2013
I liked the book. It was quite fun to get an insight into life and thinking of one of the greatest politicians of late Roman Republic. In spite of and perhaps thanks to all the pettiness and short-term pragmatism that no human can really avoid. :-)
May 18, 2015
In a word, brilliant. It is no surprise that his speeches have as much power now as they did then. It is not so much in the topics themselves that make them do memorable, but the construction of these pieces.
Read
September 23, 2010Cicero: Selected Political Speeches (Penguin Classics) by Marcus Tullius Cicero (1977)
April 5, 2017
As an orqtor, there were few better than Cicero.
August 31, 2012
SUPER. NEEDS TO READ OUT LOUD. BETTER IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH ROMAN HIST.
August 14, 2022
Excellent book!!!
April 19, 2015
It was quite fun to get an insight into life and thinking of one of the greatest politicians of late Roman Republic
February 5, 2016
The best.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews