Section 14
Original Latin
nam nisi multorum praeceptis multisque litteris mihi ab adulescentia suasissem nihil esse in vita magno opere expetendum nisi laudem atque honestatem, in ea autem persequenda omnis cruciatus corporis, omnia pericula mortis atque exsili parvi esse ducenda, numquam me pro salute vestra in tot ac tantas dimicationes atque in hos profligatorum hominum cotidianos impetus obiecissem. sed pleni omnes sunt libri, plenae sapientium voces, plena exemplorum vetustas; quae iacerent in tenebris omnia, nisi litterarum lumen accederet. quam multas nobis imagines non solum ad intuendum verum etiam ad imitandum fortissimorum virorum expressas scriptores et Graeci et Latini reliquerunt! quas ego mihi semper in administranda re publica proponens animum et mentem meam ipsa cogitatione hominum excellentium conformabam.
Musean translation
Complete machine-assisted Musean translation made directly from the Latin in Clark’s 1911 edition; source-language model review recorded. Perseus transcription: CC BY-SA 4.0, credited to the Perseus Project, Tufts University.
For unless, through the teachings of many people and through wide reading, I had convinced myself from my youth that nothing in life deserves to be earnestly sought except glory and moral honor, and that in pursuing them every bodily torment, every danger of death and exile, must count for little, I would never have thrown myself into so many great struggles for your safety, or exposed myself to these daily attacks by corrupt men. But books are full of these lessons, the words of the wise are full of them, and the past is full of examples; all would lie in darkness without the light of literature. How many portraits of the bravest men Greek and Latin writers have left us, vividly drawn not only for us to contemplate but also to imitate! By keeping these always before me as I conducted public affairs, I shaped my heart and mind through the very contemplation of outstanding men.
Plain English translation
Complete machine-assisted Plain English translation made independently and directly from the Latin, not from the Musean edition; source-language model review recorded. Perseus transcription: CC BY-SA 4.0, credited to the Perseus Project, Tufts University.
From my youth, the teachings of many people and my reading of many works convinced me of this: nothing in life deserves our strong desire except praise and doing what is right. In pursuing these, we should count every physical torment, every danger of death or exile, as a small thing. Without that conviction, I would never have faced so many serious struggles for your safety, or these daily attacks by corrupt men.
All books are full of such lessons. The words of wise people are full of them. The past is full of examples. All of them would lie in darkness without the light that literature brings. Greek and Latin writers have left us so many vivid pictures of brave men, not just for us to look at, but also to imitate! In managing public affairs, I have always kept these examples before me. Simply by thinking about such outstanding people, I shaped my own mind and character.
About this section
Section 14 is part of For Archias the Poet by Marcus Tullius Cicero. This page sets the Latin original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is part 14 of 32 in the work, which is kept in the Roman tradition.
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