Marcus Tullius Cicero Truth Quotations

The first duty of man is the seeking after and the investigation of truth.

Our minds possess by nature an insatiable desire to know the truth.

Where is there dignity unless there is honesty?

We should not be so taken up in the search for truth, as to neglect the needful duties of active life; for it is only action that gives a true value and commendation to virtue.

Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.

So near is falsehood to truth that a wise man would do well not to trust himself on the narrow edge.

Who does not know history's first law to be that an author must not dare to tell anything but the truth? And its second that he must make bold to tell the whole truth? That there must be no suggestion of partiality anywhere in his writings? Nor of malice?

He who has once deviated from the truth, usually commits perjury with as little scruple as he would tell a lie. [Lat., Qui semel a veritate deflexit, hic non majore religione ad perjurium quam ad mendacium perduci consuevit.]

Oh, how great is the power of truth! which of its own power can easily defend itself against all the ingenuity and cunning and wisdom of men, and against the treacherous plots of all the world.

A liar is not believed even though he tell the truth.

The first law for the historian is that he shall never dare utter an untruth. The second is that he shall suppress nothing that is true. Moreover, there shall be no suspicion of partiality in his writing, or of malice.

If the truth were self-evident, eloquence would be unnecessary.

It is a true saying that 'one falsehood easily leads to another.'

Nothing is more noble, nothing more venerable than fidelity. Faithfulness and truth are the most sacred excellences and endowments of the human mind.

This is the truth: as from a fire aflame thousands of sparks come forth, even so from the Creator an infinity of beings have life and to him return again.

The precepts of the law are these: to live honestly, to injure no one, and to give everyone else his due.

By doubting we come at truth.

In everything truth surpasses the imitation and copy.

The Intellect engages us in the pursuit of Truth. The Passions impel us to Action.

I swear I would rather be wrong with Plato than see the truth with men like these.

If we are not ashamed to think it, we should not be ashamed to say it.