Cicero is generally held to be one of the most versatile minds of ancient Rome. He introduced the Romans to the chief schools of Greek philosophy, and also created a Latin philosophical vocabulary; distinguishing himself as a linguist, translator, and philosopher. A distinguished orator and successful lawyer, Cicero likely valued his political career as his most important achievement. Today he is appreciated primarily for his humanism and philosophical and political writings. His voluminous correspondence, much of it addressed to his friend Atticus, has been especially influential, introducing the art of refined letter writing to European culture. Cornelius Nepos, the 1st-century BC biographer of Atticus, remarked that Cicero's letters to Atticus contained such a wealth of detail "concerning the inclinations of leading men, the faults of the generals, and the revolutions in the government" that their reader had little need for a history of the period.[3]
During the chaotic latter half of the first century BC, marked by civil wars and the dictatorship of Gaius Julius Caesar, Cicero championed a return to the traditional republican government. However, his career as a statesman was marked by inconsistencies and a tendency to shift his position in response to changes in the political climate. His indecision may be attributed to his sensitive and impressionable personality; he was prone to overreaction in the face of political and private change. "Would that he had been able to endure prosperity with greater self-control and adversity with more fortitude!" wrote C. Asinius Pollio, a contemporary Roman statesman and historian.[4][5]
A manuscript containing Cicero's letters to Atticus, Quintus, and Brutus was rediscovered by Petrarch in 1345 at the Capitolare library in Verona. This rediscovery is often credited for initiating the 14th-century Italian Renaissance, and for the founding of Renaissance humanism.[6]
Works
Cicero was declared a "virtuous pagan" by the early Church, and therefore many of his works were deemed worthy of preservation. Important Church Fathers such as Saint Augustine and others quoted liberally from his works, e.g. "On the Commonwealth" (De Re Publica) and "On Laws" (De Legibus), as well as Cicero's (partial) Latin translation of Plato's Timaeus dialogue. Cicero also articulated an early, abstract conceptualisation of rights, based on ancient law and custom.[7]
Speeches
Of his speeches, eighty-eight were recorded, fifty-two of which survive today. Some of the items below include more than one speech.
Legal speeches
(81 BC) Pro Quinctio (On behalf of Publius Quinctius)
(45 BC) Academica Priora – (First edition of the Academica comprising two books, the Catullus, which is lost, and the extant Lucullus) – a book about Academic Skepticism, the school of philosophy of which Cicero was an adherent.
(45 BC) Academica Posteriora or Academica Liberi (Second edition of the Academica comprising four books, all of which except for part of book 1 has been lost. Also known as the Varro)
Cicero's letters to and from various public and private figures are considered some of the most reliable sources of information for the people and events surrounding the fall of the Roman Republic. While 37 books of his letters have survived into modern times, 35 more books were known to antiquity that have since been lost. These included letters to Caesar, to Pompey, to Octavian, and to his son Marcus.[10]
Several works extant through having been included in influential collections of Ciceronian texts exhibit such divergent views and styles that they have long been agreed by experts not to be authentic works of Cicero. They are also never mentioned by Cicero himself, nor any of the ancient critics or grammarians who commonly refer to and quote passages from Cicero's authentic works.
2003. Ramsay, J. Cicero: Philippics I–II. Cambridge University Press.
2012. Manuwald, G. Cicero, "Philippics" 3–9: Edited with Introduction, Translation and Commentary. Volume 1: Introduction, Text and Translation, References and Indexes. Volume 2: Commentary. De Guyter.
Pro Sestio
2006. Kaster, R.A. Cicero: Speech on Behalf of Publius Sestius. Oxford University Press.
Selected Orations
1993. Gotoff. H. Cicero's Caesarian Speeches: A Stylistic Commentary. University of North Carolina Press.2009. Zetzel. J. Marcus Tullius Cicero: Ten Speeches. Hackett Publishing.
2001. Siani-Davies. M. Cicero's Speech Pro Rabirio Postumo. Clarendon Press.
2011. Gildenhard. I. Cicero, Against Verres, 2.1.53–86: Latin Text with Introduction, Study Questions, Commentary and English Translation. Open Book Publishers.
De Re Publica
1928. De Re Publica, De Legibus. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Loeb Classical Library. Latin text and English translation by Clinton Walker Keyes.
1980. Bréguet, E. La République. Paris: Belles Lettres. Collection des universités de France. (2 volumes).
1984. Büchner, K. De Re Publica. Heidelberg: Winter. Wissenschaftliche Kommentare zu griechischen und lateinischen Schriftstellern.
1995. Zetzel, J. De Re Publica. Selections. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Edited with Introduction and Commentary.
2006. Powell. J.G.F. De Re Publica, De Legibus, Cato Maior De Senectute, Laelius De Amicitia. New York: Oxford University Press.
2008. Powell J. and N. Rudd.The Republic, the Laws. New York: Oxford University Press. Oxford World's Classics.
2010. Nickel. R. Der Staat = De Re Publica. Düsseldorf: Artemis & Winkler. Lateinisch–Deutsch.
De legibus
1928. Keyes. C.W. De Re Publica, De Legibus. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Loeb Classical Library.
1959. Plinval. G de.Traité Des Lois. Paris Belles Lettres. Collection des universités de France.
1972. Kenter, L. P. De Legibus. A Commentary on Book I. Amsterdam: Hakkert. By L. P. Kenter. Translation from the Dutch by Margie L. Leenheer-Braid.
1983. Giraret, K. M. Die Ordnung Der Welt. Ein Beitrag Zur Philosophischen Und Politischen Interpretation Von Ciceros Schrift De Legibus. Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner.
1994. Nickel, R. De Legibus = Über Die Gesetze; Paradoxa Stoicorum = Stoische Paradoxien. Zürich: Artemis & Winkler. Lateinisch–Deutsch. Herausgegeben.
1999. Zetzel, J. On the Commonwealth; on the Laws. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
2004. Dyck, A. A Commentary on Cicero, De Legibus. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
2007. Sauer, J. Argumentations- Und Darstellungsformen Im Ersten Buch Von Ciceros Schrift De Legibus. Heidelberg: Winter.
2010. Caspar, T. W. Recovering the Ancient View of Founding. A Commentary on Cicero's De Legibus. Lanham: Lexington Books.
Paradoxa Stoicorum
1971. Molager, J. Les Paradoxes Des Stoïciens. Paris: Belles Lettres. Collection des universités de France.
1991. Ronnick, M. V. Paradoxa Stoicorum. A Commentary, an Interpretation, and a Study of Its Influence. Bern: Peter Lang.
1994. Nickel, R. De Legibus = Über Die Gesetze; Paradoxa Stoicorum = Stoische Paradoxien. Zürich: Artemis & Winkler. Lateinisch–Deutsch. Herausgegeben.
Hortensius
1958. Ruch, M. L' Hortensius. Paris: Belles Lettres. Collection d'études anciennes.
1962. Grilli, A. Hortensius. Milano: Istituto editoriale Cisalpino.
1976. Staume-Zimmermann, L. Hortensius. Bern: Peter Lang. Europäische Hochschulschriften. Reihe XV, Klassische Philologie und Literatur.
De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum
1914. Rackham, H. De Finibus Bonorum Et Malorum. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Loeb Classical Library. Latin text and English translation revised in 1951.
1928. Levy, C. and J. Martha. Des Termes Extrêmes Des Biens Et Des Maux. Paris: Belles Lettres.
1988. Gigon O. and L. Straume-Zimmermann. Über Die Ziele Des Menschlichen Handelns = De Finibus Bonorum Et Malorum. München: Artemis.
1991. Wright, M.R. On Stoic Good and Evil: De Finibus Bonorum Et Malorum, Liber Iii; and Paradoxa Stoicorum. Warminster: Aris & Phillips.
1998. Reynolds, L.D. De Finibus Bonorum Et Malorum: Libri Quinque. New York: Clarendon Press.
2001. Annas, J. and R. Woolf. On Moral Ends. Cambridge: Cambridger University Press.
2005. Moreschini, C. De Finibus Bonorum Et Malorum. Munich: Teubner.
1930. Fohlen, G. and J. Humbert. Tusculanes. Paris: Belles Lettres. Collection des universités de France. Tome I: Livres I et II (1930); Tome II. Livre III–V (1931).
1952. Büchner, K. Gespräche in Tusculum. Zürich: Artemis.
1998. Gigon, O. Gespräche in Tusculum = Tusculanae Disputationes. München: Artemis und Winkler.
2002. Graver, M. Cicero on the Emotions. Tusculan Disputations 3 and 4. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
2006. Koch, B. Philosophie Als Medizin Für Die Seele. Untersuchungen Zu Ciceros Tusculanae Disputationes. Stuttgart: Steiner.
2007. Gildenhard, I. Paideia Romana. Cicero's Tusculan Disputations. Cambridge: Cambridge Philological Society.
2008. Eckhard, L. Philosophie Unter Der Tyrannis. Ciceros Tusculanae Disputationes. Heidelberg: Winter.
Academica
1970. Ruch, M. Academica Posteriora. Liber Primus. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France. Érasme.
1988. Hunt, T. J. A Textual History of Cicero's Academici Libri. Leiden: Brill.
1995. Schäublin, C. Akademische Abhandlungen. Lucullus. Hamburg: F. Meiner. Einleitung von Andreas Graeser und Christoph Schäublin. Anmerkungen von Andreas Bächli und Andreas Graeser.
1998. Haltenhoff, A. Kritik Der Akademischen Skepsis. Ein Kommentar Zu Cicero, Lucullus 1–62. Bern: Peter Lang.
2006. Brittain, C. On Academic Scepticism. Indianapolis: Hackett.
Translation of Plato's Timaeus
1908. Plasberg, O. M. Tulii Ciceronis Paradoxa stoicorum, Academicorum, Reliquiae cum Lucullo, Timaeus, ND, De divinatione, De fato. Leipzig. (Online publication of the 1908 text, 2011).
1975. Giomini, R. (ed.) De Divinatione, De Fato, Timaeus. Teubner. Leipzig.
De Natura Deorum
1933. Rackham, H. De Natura Deorum; Academica. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Loeb Classical Library.
1955. Pease, A.S. De Natura Deorum. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Two volumes: 1 (1955), 2 (1958). Reprint: New York, Arno Press, 1979.
1986. van den Bruwaene, M. De Natura Deorum: Tables. Latomus no. 192:1–173.
1996. Gigon O. und L. Straume-Zimmermann Vom Wesen Der Götter: Lateinisch–Deutsch. Zürich: Artemis und Winkler.
1997. Walsh, P.G. The Nature of the Gods. New York: Oxford University Press.
2002. Auvray-Assayas, C. La Nature Des Dieux. Paris: Belles Lettres.
2003. Dyck, A. De Natura Deorum. Liber I. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
De Divinatione
1920. Pease, A.S. De Divinatione; Liber Primvs–Secvndvs. Urbana: University of Illinois.Two volumes: 1 (1920); 2 (1923). Reprint: New York, Arno Press, 1979.
1923. Falconer, W.A. De Senectute; De Amicitia; De Divinatione. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Loeb Classical Library.
1991. Schäublin, C. Über Die Wahrsagung = De Divinatione : Lateinisch–Deutsch. München: Artemis und Winkler.
1992. Freyburger, G. and J. Scheid. De La Divination. Paris: Belles Lettres.
2004. Kany-Turpin, J. De La Divination = De Divinatione. Paris: Flammarion.
2006. De François, G. Le De Diuinatione De Cicéron Et Les Théories Antiques De La Divination. Bruxelles: Éditions Latomus.
2006. Wardle, D. Cicero on Divination. De Divinatione, Book 1. New York: Oxford University Press.
De Fato
1933. Yon, A. Traité Du Destin. Paris: Belles Lettres. Collection des universités de France.
1963. Bayer, K. De Fato. Über Das Fatum. Lateinisch–Deutsch. München: Heimeran-Verlag.
1991. Sharples, R.W. On Fate (De Fato) / Cicero. & the Consolation of Philosophy (Philosophiae Consolationis) : Iv.5–7, V / Boethius. Warminster: Aris and Phillips.
2008. Schallenberg, M. Freiheit Und Determinismus. Ein Philosophischer Kommentar Zu Ciceros Schrift De Fato. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.
De Senectute and De Amicitia (Laelius)
1876. Müller, C.F.W. and M. Seyffert. Laelius; De Amicita Dialogus. Hildesheim: Georg Olms 1965. Reprografischer Nachdruck der Ausgabe Leipzig, 1876.
1923. Falconer, W.A. De Senectute; De Amicitia; De Divinatione. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Loeb Classical Library.
1967. Steinmetz, F-A. Die Freundschaftslehre Des Panaitos. Nach Einer Analyse Von Ciceros Laelius De Amicitia. Wiesbaden: F. Steiner.
1972. Ruch, M. De Senectute. Paris: Bordas.
1988. Powell, J.G.F. Cato Maior De Senectute. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
1989. Wuilleumier, P. Caton L'ancien (De La Vieillesse). Paris: Belles Lettres. Collection des universités de France.
1990. Powell, J.G.F. On Friendship and the Dream of Scipio. Warminster: Arts and Phillips.
1998. Merklin, H. Cato Maior De Senectute = Cato Der Ältere Über Das Alter. Lateinisch–Deutsch. Stuttgart: Reclam.
De Officiis
1913. Miller, W. De Officiis. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Loeb Classical Library.
1965. Testard, M. Les Devoirs. Paris: Belles Lettres. Collection des universités de France. 2 volumes: 1 (1965); 2 (1970).
1967. Higginbotham, J. On Moral Obligation. Berkeley: University of California Press.
1991. Griffin, M.T. and Atkins, M. On Duties. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
1994. Winterbottom, M. De Officiis. New York: Oxford University Press.
1995. Kinapenne, C. De Officiis. Index Verborum, Listes De Fréquence, Relevés Grammaticaux. Liège.
1996. Dyck, A. R. A Commentary on Cicero, De Officiis. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan.
2001. Walsh, P.G. On Obligations. New York: Oxford University Press.
2008. Nickel, R. De Officiis = Vom Pflichtgemässen Handel. Lateinisch–Deutsch. Düsseldorf: Artemis und Winkler.
2016. Newton, B. P. Marcus Tullius Cicero: On Duties (Agora Editions). Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
De Inventione
1949. Hubbell, H.M. De Inventione; De Optimo Genere Oratorum; Topica. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Loeb Classical Library.
1994. Achard, G. De L'invention. Paris: Belles Lettres. Collection des universités de France.
1998. Nüsslein, T. De Inventione = Über Die Auffindung Des Stoffes ; De Optimo Genere Oratorum = Über Die Beste Gattung Von Rednern. Düsseldorf: Artemis und Winkler.
De Oratore
1902. Wilkins, A.S. Rhetorica, Tomus I: Libros De Oratore Tres Continens. New York: Oxford University Press.
1948. Rackham. H. and E.W. Sutton. De Oratore [and De Fato; Paradoxa Stoicorum; De Partitione Oratoria]. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Loeb Classical Library. Contents: I. De Oratore, Books 1–2. II. De Oratore, Book 3. De Fato, Paradoxa Stoicorum, De Partitione Oratoria.
1985. Leeman, D. H. Pinkster, et al. De Oratore Libri Iii. Kommentar. Heidelberg: Winter. Wissenschaftliche Kommentare zu griechischen und lateinischen Schriftstellern. Band 1: Buch I, 1–65 (A. D. Leeman, H. Pinkster, Hein L. Nelson, Edwin Rabbie, 1993); Band 2: Buch I, 166–265, Buch II, 1–98 (A. D. Leeman, H. Pinkster, Hein L. Nelson, Edwin Rabbie, 1985); Band 3: Buch II, 99–290 (A. D. Leeman, H. Pinkster, Hein L. Nelson, Edwin Rabbie, 1989); Band 4: Buch II, 291–367 /Buch III, 1–95 (A. D. Leeman, H. Pinkster, J. Wisse, H. L. Nelson, E. Rabbie, 1996).
2001. May, J.M. and J. Wisse. Cicero on the Ideal Orator (De Oratore). New York: Oxford University Press.
2007. Nüsslein, T. De Oratore = Über Den Redner. Düsseldorf: Artemis & Winkler. Lateinisch–Deutsch.
2008. Yon, A. L'orateur. Du Meilleur Genre D'orateurs. Paris: Belles Lettres. Collection des universités de France.
Brutus
1885. Sandys, J.E. Ad M. Brutum Orator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Reprint: New York, Arno Press, 1979.
1903. Wilkins, A.S. Rhetorica, Tomus II: Brvtvs; Orator; De Optimo Genere Oratorvm; Partitiones Oratoriae; Topica. New York: Oxford University Press.
1907. Ad M. Brutum Orator. Lipsia: G. Teubner. Bibliotheca Scriptorvm Graecorvm Et Romanorvm Tevbneriana. Recognovit Wilhelm Friedrich.
1962. Hendrickson, G.L. and H.M. Hubbell. Brutus; Orator. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Loeb Classical Library.
1981. Barwick, K. Brutus. Freiburg: Ploetz. Lateinisch–Deutsch.
Orator, Partitiones Oratoriae
1903. Rhetorica, Tomus II: Brvtvs; Orator; De Optimo Genere Oratorvm; Partitiones Oratoriae; Topica. New York: Oxford University Press. Scriptorum classicorum bibliotheca Oxoniensis. Recognovit brevique adnotatione critica instrvxit August Samuel Wilkins.
Topica
1924. Bornecque, H. Divisions De L'art Oratoire, Topiques. Paris: Belles Lettres.
1983. Zekl, H. G. Topik. Lateinisch–Deutsch. Hamburg: F. Meiner.
2003. Reihnardt, T. Topica. New York: Oxford University Press.
Epistulae
1987. Shackleton-Bailey, D.R. Epistulae ad Atticum. Vol.I: Libri I–VIII (BT 1208, 1987); Vol.II: Libri IX–XVI (BT 1209, 1987)
1988. Shackleton-Bailey, D.R. Epistulae ad Familiares libri I–XVI (BT 1210, 1988)
1988. Shackleton-Bailey, D.R. Epistulae ad Quintum fratrem. Epistulae ad M. Brutum. Commentariolum petitionis. Fragmenta epistolarum (BT 1211, 1988)
Fragmentary works
1963. Cooper, C.G. Latin extracts of Cicero on Himself. University of Queensland Press.
1984. Crawford, Jane W. M. Tullius Cicero: The Lost and Unpublished Orations (Hypomnemata Untersuchungen zur Antike und zu Ihrem Nachleben, Heft 80, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen, 1984) ISBN3-525-25178-5
1984. Garbarino, G. Fragmenta Ex Libris Philosophicis, Ex Aliis Libris Deperditis, Ex Scriptis Incertis. Milano: Mondadori.
1994. Crawford, Jane W. M. Tullius Cicero: The Fragmentary Speeches, an Edition with Commentary, 2nd edition (American Philological Association, American Classical Studies no. 37, Scholars Press, Atlanta, 1994) ISBN0-7885-0076-7
Penguin Classics English translations
Cicero
Selected Political Speeches (Penguin Books, 1969)
Selected Works: Against Verres I, Twenty-three letters, The Second Philippic against Antony, On Duties III, On Old Age, by Michael Grant (Penguin Books, 1960)
On Government: Against Verres II 5, For Murena, For Balbus, On the State III, V, VI, On Laws III, The Brutus, The Philippics IV, V, X, by Michael Grant (Penguin Books, 1993)
Plutarch, Fall of the Roman Republic, Six Lives by Plutarch: Marius, Sulla, Crassus, Pompey, Caesar, Cicero, by Rex Warner (Penguin Books, 1958; with Introduction and notes by Robin Seager, 1972)
Secondary literature
Atkins, Jed William (2010). "Rights in Cicero's Political Philosophy". American Political Science Association 2010 Annual Meeting.
Bishop, C. (2018) Cicero, Greek Learning, and the Making of a Roman Classic. Oxford.
Ciaceri, E, (1941), Cicerone e i suoi tempi, volume 2, Milan-Genoa.
Cowell, F.R. (1973) Cicero and the Roman Republic, Penguin Books, Great Britain.
Frier, B.W (1985) The Rise of the Roman Jurists: Studies in Cicero'sPro Caecina. Princeton University Press. ISBN0-691-03578-4
Gotoff, H.C. (1993) Cicero's Caesarian Speeches: A Stylistic Commentary. University of North Carolina Press. ISBN0-8078-4407-1
Gruen, E.S. (1974) The last Generation of the Roman Republic. University of California Press.
Haskell, H.J. (1946) This was Cicero. Fawcett publications, Inc. Greenwich, Conn.
Kinsey, T. E. (1980) "Cicero's case against Magnus, Capito and Chrysogonus in the pro Sex. Roscio Amerino and its use for the historian", L'Ant.Classique 49: 173–190.
Manuwald, G. (2004) "Performance and Rhetoric in Cicero's Philippics", Antichthon 38: 51–69.
March, D. A. (1989) "Cicero and the 'Gang of Five'", Classical World 82: 225–234
Powell, J.G.F. (ed.) (1995) Cicero the Philosopher. Oxford University Press.