Marcus Tullius Cicero Quote 

"A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. The traitor is the plague."

by:
Marcus Tullius Cicero
(106-43 B.C.) Roman Statesman, Philosopher and Orator
Source:
Attributed. 58 BC, Speech in the Roman Senate
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Reader comments about this quote:
Still applies today to liberalsim. Listen to Michael Savage.
 -- Bob, Enola		 
 -- MAM, Dayton 
 -- Steve, Yucca Valley CA 
A bogus "quote". Cicero never said it.
 -- A.W. Schlaf, Des Moines, IA		 
Describes the ACLU and liberal academia to a tee.
 -- Don, Michigan		 
Another one for you Marcus Tullius Cicero. May the gods of eternity look upon you with favour.
 -- Anonymous		 
Our corrupt government is full of traitors (i.e. congress, president, senators, etc.). They are selfish with their own agenda, not caring about our country or people. A quick internet search yields multiple hits attributing this quote to Cicero. If this is a misquote, it is well accepted. Misquote or not, it is still rates several stars. Perhaps A.W. Schlaf is a traitor ... or at least a socialist posing as a democrat.
 -- Joe, Rochester, MI		 
Describes the present administration to a tee.
 -- Robert, Sarasota		 
Yes, but the traitor is very apparent - it runs the corridors of power with immunity and its name is called GREED. It shall be our undoing - if it wasn't for the laws that liberals created it would have already been our undoing a long time ago.
 -- Kent, Sarasota		 
Kent drank the Kool-aid ... Liberals are not greedy - only those evil conservatives are greedy ... those multimillionaire liberal politicians truly identify with and care for the poor ... those greedy conservatives only care about themselves and their money. If those socialist/communist liberals REALLY believed in the crap they spew, they would live like we do and give the rest of their money to the government. They are nothing but elitists. They're happy to give away OUR money while they live in their mansions. They are happy to take away OUR right and means to defend ourselves while they have their bodyguards (of course they are more important than us, so they need protecting).
 -- Mike, NC		 
Kennedy, Reid, Schumer, Feinstein! Turner, Fonda, Kerry and the rest of the Hollywood Film Actors Guild. Yes, Marcus warned us of them and they are indeed a clear and present danger.
 -- Cato, Utica		 
Well now, I see I am now branded a traitor. Perhaps Joe of Rochester, MI can leave aside his jingoistic blather and prove me wrong. In short, just where did Cicero say this? What is the original Latin? This quote is running rampant on the internet, yet no one, no one, has ever given the specific source. As a Classicist, I am offended by such bogus appeals to faux authority. More and more, it seems, that one can put up anything, in support of the right or the left, attribute it to a Greek or Roman author and get close to instant, knee jerk respect and acceptance. In short, cite "chapter and verse" so it can be independently verified or shut the hell up.
 -- A.W. Schlaf, Des Moines, IA		 
Whether you're liberal or conservative, the point is if we aren't united we will raze ourselves to the ground. I'm not even out of highschool and I am disgusted by all the bickering between the right and the left.
 -- Mallory , Warrenton		 
 -- Anonymous 
pimp cheese
 -- kilo, longwood, fl		 
ONLY A MORE SAVAGE NATION CAN SURVIVE!!!
 -- Ronald Regan Reborn!, SANTA CRUZ, CA		 
Sounds like far left liberals who would rather criticize the U.S.A. than the Terrorist. Also reminds me of the politician who plays the blame game and in the end, gives support to our enemies. If Cicero did not say this, he should have!
 -- Bill, Trenton		 
You can always tell who it is, that a quote hits the hardest, by their "outrage" and their denial. heh,heh,heh
 -- frank, Spokane		 
I agree with Bill (Trenton) and Frank (Sokane) Well said to both!
 -- John, San Antonio, Texas		 
Mr. A. W. Schlaf says a bogus quote. If Cicero never said it then you must know who did. Enlighten us Carnac the magnificant.
 -- Claudius, Tulsa		 
i agree, to this day, liberals destroy our country from within, michael savage puts it in a good way in his bok "The Enemy Within", i suggest you read it if you havent
 -- anthony, LA		 
Fits right in there with "Honoria" by Taylor Caldwell. If you havent read it do! History repeating itself.
 -- J.R., Houston, Texas		 
The truth is eternally relevant, and is presently true.
 -- Michael McKee, Mount Vernon, OH		 
Well, Claudius, you actually have it backwards. It is up to those who claim it is a quote from Cicero to prove it. Give us the exact passage citation and the original Latin. If you cannot, then it remains an unproven quote. Please note that I did not disagree with the substance of the alleged "quote", but only with the source. Making such a statement and then falsely or ignorantly attributing it to a Greek or Roman author only ultimately weakens the argument. Is that what you want?
 -- A.W. Schlaf, Des Moines, IA		 
I think the liberal/progressive rats who say Cicero never said this will never ever do the research to find it. Why leave the bathhouse or coffee shop to do so right. Liberals bring emotion and true Conservatives...true Conservatives bring...fact.
 -- irg, tampa		 
Well, irg of Tampa, I did the research but, once again lazy sloganeers like you get it back wards. If you attribute it to an author, you should be able to to give the exact citation as to where it can be found in that author's works, if not in the original language. You and your ilk do not because you are more content to parrot a clever quote rather than investigate its source. I guess you also missed the part where I said I do not disagree with the substance of the alleged "quote." Again, falsely or ignorantly attributing it to a Greek or Roman source only weakens your argument when it cannot be backed up.
 -- A.W. Schlaf, Des Moines, IA		 
Well, AW.........guess what? I'm an old codger and have been hearing that Cicero quote for many years. Long before any internet. Sorry, I do not know Greek or Latin and thus will pass on your challenge. Frankly, it is such a good quote I cannot imagine anyone speaking it and attributing it to anyone else.
 -- WWP, Memphis		 
OK, WWP, you admit you know no Latin but have this preternatural feeling that the quote is from Cicero, despite any evidence for it than that you "...haved been hearing that Cicero quote for many years." Have you read any Cicero in translation? Have you studied his times and culture? Perhaps uninformed feelings are right for some, but I prefer hard evidence. In this case there is none.
 -- A.W Schlaf, Des Moines, IA		 
Dudes, Quit attacking each other. The enemy uses this dialectic to expend our energy. They play us. Look to those that control the NGO's that influence our politics. The Fed, the not-for-profits established by the guilded age money elite up to current day money elite, etc. The way out of this mess is easy to concieve. 1) Get rid of these organizations. 2) Tax wealth, not income. 3) Let the states again select the senators.
 -- mam, dayton		 
Traitors? You mean like the republicans who sell out our principles and send our sons&daughters to their death for oil company profits?
 -- David W. Walters, Fayetteville N.C.		 
Traitor to what? A cause that is not your own. That is not being a traitor. Its being true to yourself. The U.S. government is the most corrupt evil vile criminal organization in the world. And I will fight it to my last breath until it is destroyed from the face of what was once this beautiful Earth.
 -- Anonymous		 
"A house divided against itself cannot stand"
 -- Mark Earhart, Ringgold GA		 
Liberal as defined in http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liberal > Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin liberalis suitable for a freeman, generous, from liber free; perhaps akin to Old English lēodan to grow, Greek eleutheros free Date: 14th century 1 a: of, relating to, or based on the liberal arts barchaic : of or befitting a man of free birth 2 a: marked by generosity : openhanded b: given or provided in a generous and openhanded way c: ample, full 3obsolete : lacking moral restraint : licentious 4: not literal or strict : loose 5: broad-minded; especially : not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms 6 a: of, favoring, or based upon the principles of liberalism bcapitalized : of or constituting a political party advocating or associated with the principles of political liberalism; especially : of or constituting a political party in the United Kingdom associated with ideals of individual especially economic freedom, greater individual participation in government, and constitutional, political, and administrative reforms designed to secure these objectives. synonyms liberal: generous, bountiful, munificent mean giving or given freely and unstintingly. liberal suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given . generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift . bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing . munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes .
 -- Jan, Germantown, MD		 
Anyone who cannot see both the relevance and importance of this quote will be partially responsible for the downfall of all of us; regardless of your "party." Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Today, the world wants you to think we somehow have eliminated greed, intolerance, sloth, and the other deadly sins- that we have, or can, rise above human nature to be more "tolerant" and "understanding." Human nature is human nature, however, and it is the slippery slope. There are things that will never change because they are the very things that make us human. To think that your "party" is any better than the other- especially when you view the overall end impact of it's administration- is to be completely ignorant of the facts and history. Deficit. Bloated social budget. Ill-considered international aid. Failure to make REAL changes rather than pure speculative window dressing for the sake of the environment. These are just a few examples. Wake up and take control back from those who HAVE entered the gates- those who have conditioned you to think in ways that make no logical or common sense. Wake the hell up.
 -- Samuel, Adams		 
For A.W.Schlaf. Pick 5 Cicero quotes, any 5 quotes, there are a multitude of them. Cite the time,place and situation under which each was spoken. Cite source(s) chapter and verse. For Anonymous, if you don't like it here, go to Kenya or North Korea or the new Russia and see how much critical latitude they allow you.SCHMUCK ! Anonymous=No guts. I'd also suggest VietNam but now its too nice a-place and too free for the likes of you. For Jan of Germantown: dictionary exerpts don't help here. "Liberal" has to be taken in its current/common meaning and use. For me, its a dirty word!
 -- J, King, Bellbrook, OH		 
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!... It's going to get harder and harder for Traitors from now on, but we leave them alone, because they are interesting subjects to study.
 -- Alastair Carnegie, Colne		 
did they have a central bank run by criminals called the federal reserve in ancient times? or was Cicero a prophet?
 -- john, illinois		 
liberalism,LMAO,try a monetary system.we are a one party system with two factions,controlled by the central bank,owning both parties.the politicians are merely figureheads.Its an old strategy written by sun tzu ,called divide and conquer.while you bicker over liberalism ,the crooks in the bank are stealing our money and taking away liberties,not "liberals."wake the F up.you fighting over liberalism and neo-cons are the fools he speaks of,in this quote.
 -- john, belleville		 
 -- Anonymous 
Anyone who still criticizes libs or conservatives because 'they're the traitors' is a facile idiot. The entire system is owned by bankers and the wealthy. Neither party is responsive to the people in the least at this point. The Republic is now a corporatocracy. We have Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich - the only ones oppossing the rape of our once beautiful country by the pirates in power.
 -- misterkel, longview		 
So True, George Bush and the Christian Right act one way yet bring destruction as is the case now with our economy 01/09
 -- Newt, DC		 
Dear Newt, DC and others - to have the audacity to blame Bush and the Christian Right for the current state of economic affairs is ludicrous. I AM a Democrat and even I know better. Alan Greenspan in 1999, GWB starting in 2001, and others including John McCain who authored a bill in, I believe it was 2004, possibly 2005 to cause Congress to reverse the deregulation of Fannie/Freddie as Greenspan had predicted precisely what happened. Maxine Water's words were, "There is no crisis. They're just a bunch of racists who don't want poor people to own homes". Barney Frank accused Bush and the Right of being "Chicken Littles, like the sky was going to fall". Well guess what folks, it DID !!!! One of the biggest mistakes I find in America is that the citizens are ignorant to the nation around them. Pay attention to who the wealthiest truly are. What party do they belong to? What party do the wealthiest Congressmen belong to? Then pay attention to what the wealthiest Americans are doing with their money. Are they putting shoes on poor American childrens' feet? Are they building schools for American children in poor communities? Are they making certain that every poor American child has been vaccinated? Are they making certain that every poor American child has food on their table? This is not a racist issue since Blacks, Whites and Hispanices alike are equally guilty. Pay attention folks.
 -- Sue, Glendale		 
A.W. Schlaf, here's another quote from Cicero, cited, that describes the liberals: "To err is human, but to persevere in error is only the act of a fool." [Lat., Cujusvis hominis est errare, nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare.] Topic: Errors Source: Philippicoe (XII, 2)
 -- Laura, Chicago, Illinois		 
Here's another one of Cicero's quotes for you, A.W. Schlaf that describes the Leftist elites' war on us "lowly, backwards" conservatives: "It is the stain and disgrace of the age to envy virtue, and to be anxious to crush the very flower of dignity." [Lat., Est haec saeculi labes quaedam et macula virtuti invidere, velle ipsum florem dignitatis infringere.] Topic: Virtue Source: Gratio Pro Lucio Cornelio Balbo (VI)
 -- Laura, Chicago, Illinois		 
I Think he has an excellent point on this. we are still in libert. kent could have drank the kool-aid. we still don't have safe cities, kids these days can't just wak about and do thing and have fun. without somebody even looking at you or trying to take. most have to worry about gettin shot or kill. Then, some parents have to worry about keepin there kids out from doing drugs or selling drugs.WE DNT HAVE SAFE CITIES CORRECT
 -- Anonymous, CORSICANA		 
OK, Laura, et al., let's just look back on this thread and see what I said. 1. No one has been able to give an exact notation of where this supposed quote is to be found in the writings of Cicero. 2. Tied to that, no one has ben able to provide the original Latin oif this "quote." 3. I had earlier in this thread stated that I did not disagree with the message of this "quote," but only with the authenticity of its attribution. In short, are you who are all in a lather over this really that freaking stupid that you cannot recognize that? Does it not sink in that if you are not able to verify that an author said what you claim he did, you are only weakening your argument? Honestly, it is examples of such stupidity that makes me fear for the future of our country.
 -- A.W. Schlaf, Des Moines, IA		 
OK, A.W., I believe your point has been made. The source has been updated as 'attributed' because, in fact, it is. We do our best to find sources for all of our quotes and our readers help us out the most. Please keep in mind that these quotes could be displyed with no source or author name at all -- does the content of the message still hold water? Tell you what, if this quote is up for grabs, I'll take it -- it can be my quote -- OK? ;-) (Gee, I sure sound smart, don't I?) Cheers!
 -- Editor, Liberty Quotes		 
Go Cicero! Or whomever said it -- it's dead on, and a perfect description of the current regime in all three branches of the government.
 -- Adriana, San Diego, CA		 
How did Cicero (or whomever) forsee the coming of Jimmy Carter two thousand years ago?
 -- Justin, Elkland, Missouri		 
Ah yes, Jimmy Carter. I thought he was the worst president in history, but after Obama gets through, I suspect that he will drop to second place. Carter wasn't satisfied being a really bad president, he's even worse as an ex-president.
 -- jim k, austin		 
It is yet to be shown if we will have survived the treason that was the admin of King George W & his court of jesters. It is fascinating that the only folks I know who live in McMansions are hyper conservatives who think only of themselves and not a bit of society. It is a pity that so many posters here do not know the difference between a moral & ethical stance that cares about the less fortunate in life and socialism... yet another indictment of their narrow mindedness & lack of clarity of analytic thought.
 -- Anonymous, Reston, VA, US		 
The treacherous today attack those who seek to uphold the Constitution and dare to ask, "Where's the Birth Certificate?" rather than just go like sheep to the slaughter. The anger ought to be against the fraud and foreigner, the president usurper, Soetoro/Obama, who keeps America in the dark and refuses to be transparent with any of his records.
 -- David Ben-Ariel, Toledo		 
 -- David Ben-Ariel, Toledo 
This quote is especially profound with the current crew of power mongers that occupy the hallowed halls of politics - unfortunately there isn't enough backbone to stand up to what we see happening. Quotes of this vintage reminds me of a quote of Winston Churchill - "look far enough into history and you will see the future". It's not looking good to me.
 -- Jean, Bloomington		 
This quote raises many feelings in me about issues, views and opinions I hear recently. Time does not permit me to expound so I just pick one. Many conservative commentators and "thinkers" are apalled at the recent bailouts and yell "socialism". I submit they read this article at wardsautoworld.com/ar/auto-is-lags-auto/. The jest of the article is that "the US Lags in Auto Industry Support" especially in the area of government sponsored Health Care. All governments are supporting their auto industries especially the Japanese and their auto makers have the luxury of not having to pay for employee health care expense. Americans thus get cheaper cars from abroad, and we stiff our own people and short change our own nation. I submit that yelling socialism when our government and people try to do something and then buying our products form socialist or communist (China) countries is TREASON or at least very treacherous.
 -- Waffler, Smith		 
The treasons from within. YES, the liberals, the conservatives, the Democrats, the Republicans; all becoming exponentially more traitorous, more anti-constitutional republic, and more socialist (fascist, communist, and progressive - take your pick, what ever brand of socialism works best for any given situation) Waffler, I agree with you about buying American except, the traitors have de-industrialized this nation to such an extent (through rules, regulations, taxation, larceny, etc.) that its getting harder to buy anything made in America, AND harder to make anything in Amerika (recession / credit aside).
 -- Mike, Norwalk		 
Wow, a lot of great comments. We the People means you and me, all of us. We must be ever vigilant against those promising us salvation if only we would give up rights to regulate our own lives. Before long, nothing is ours, everything is the government's, and we either bow to the god of government or suffer its wrath.
 -- E Archer, NYC		 
I think that "mike" from NC is probably the biggest moron to ever come out of NC...I guess that is mostly proved in his statement about "our" money? He states conservatism is the source and blame for greed in the world? Liberalism and Communism are ONE AND THE SAME in concept and reality!! By definition is the allocation and re-distribution of assets!! WAKE UP you MORON!! I'm saddened to say that double digit iq people such as him are alive and well, and ALLOWED VOTE!! It's easy for people to be in favor for redistribution, primarily because people like Mike will be the PRIME BENEFACTORS and on the receiving end. Do me a favor, Mike, work your butt off for 6 months of the year, then just walk up to some CRACK ADDICT on the street and give him every dime you've earned, BUT STOP VOTING TO REDISTRIBUTE MINE. I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF, AND OTHERS IF I SO CHOOSE (THAT IS MY DECISION, NOT MY GOVERNMENTS) IF MY LOONY GOVERNMENT WOULD STOP TAKING EVERYTHING THAT I EARN
 -- GREG, KCMO		 
There's a handful of you who got it right. Those of you who jump on Weiner's crazy train are welcome to it. Yes, his real name is Michael Weiner ("Savage" is a moniker)...maybe we can call him Savage Weiner? Anyway, the right/left thing is an illusion. Break the two party system and register independent. Make them work for your vote. They know that 99% of the time, if you got a "D" or and "R" behind your name, that's the way you'll vote. Any Right Wing Zealot who things the "Patriot" Act, which usurps our Constitutional rights was a good thing to "get the bad guys" should listen to Ben Franklin, "Those that would trade their liberty for some temporary measure of freedom deserve neither." For those Left Wing Lunatics, you can't help people who are not willing to help themselves. For those that are unable, I'm all for helping them but cut out the tax benefit for it (ie. the subsidization of it) and let's just see how much your heart bleeds. A few guys, like John from Bellville, got it right. It is the monetary system, corrupt by it's very nature, that is the problem. Until we realize that we are all on this dirtball together and that despite differences in skin color or culture we need to come together. I'm not saying all cultures are equal not by a long shot. Any culture that is essentially a dictatorship or a theocracy is simply bad news. What I am saying is the only way to spread freedom is not by the business end of a gun or missle with technology, and the application of the scientific method to decision making as opposed to emotion-based nonsense. Yes, we'll make mistakes. No, no system is perfect but it is objective as our subjectivity will allow to use the scientific method to deal w/a finite set of resources and to maximize their use. That's the best way to meet Conservative and Progressive goals.
 -- Bill, Maumee		 
I fear he's correct. I hope he's wrong. I fear he is NOT WRONG.
 -- Chuck, Puyallup, Wa		 
When do we start hanging liberals? THEY ARE THE ENEMY WITHIN.
 -- Gunny G, Yo Momma		 
 -- Anonymous, i love you 
I don't care if Floyd the barber said it! It's FABULOUS!
 -- Oink, Out in the corn		 
If the thoughts expressed in 'A Dream of Scipio' are to be believed, Cicero was not seeking posthumous glory on this plane of existence for his cogitations. Sanely, let's take the thoughts reputed to him for what they are worth to us now. Bill, Maumee -- The Patriot Act did not usurp our rights to protection under the Constitution. The PA and its specified limitations were put in place to protect our LIVES! No life, no rights! Read the Preamble to the Constitution and the 2nd paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. Even the ACLU failed to convince anyone of authority that the PA was misapplied. Study Andrew McCarthy's essays on this point. Ben Franklin is reputed to have said "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." If you believe the jihadist threat is only a temporary hazard to our safety, and/or we have given up essential liberty to protect ourselves against the terrorists' vendetta of murder, spend some time at Robert Spencer's Jihad Watch website for an education. If we are able to agree on the hierarchy of values/principles to be applied via necessary means, fine. If not, better we wrestle with each others' ideas and come together as best we can against the enemy who wants us enslaved or dead.
 -- FamouslyUnknown, Hackensack NJ		 
He spoke of that which is on the brink of enslaving the world. He spoke of the Jew.
 -- Spied Upon, Rubble		 
This is the most accurate description of the right-wing that I've encountered. They malign all principals others believe in under the guise of patriotism, they thrive on the ignorant and the fearful, terrify the elderly, remain indifferent in a crisis, cause chaos and division among the population, promote paranoia, all in the name of power. They mock freedom of speech by using it as a tool to deceive the masses.
 -- Angel, Trustworthy		 
F#*k that D-Bag crying about we gotta prove he said it...ReDICKulous! Stop arguing about nonsense and lets begin with public executions of some of these traitorous vermin!!!
 -- Josh, American Canyon, Ca		 
Bill, Maumee...D-Bag! Who cares what Michael "Savage" Weiner's name is? We're discussing a quote about traitors from within.
 -- Josh, American Canyon, Ca		 
who ever said it, truly means very little. the truth of the matter that who ever said it gave extreme thought, apparently seeing this in their government, gave them deep insight, perhaps it inspired them to help someone to I.D the problem we face today. MR SAVAGE has someone thinking, that is the true fear, that is the true fear of the liberal, anyone that thinks!!!!!
 -- tom mcg, balti md		 
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