Marcus Tullius Cicero was an interesting character, remembered as a great orator. Born in 106 BCE, Cicero was a man who openly and incessantly spoke about his lust for fame. In the Roman law courts, speakers skilled in Roman laws and traditions would argue in full view of passers-by. The best way to make a name for oneself as an orator was by becoming a prosecuting magistrate in a criminal case. Interestingly, Romans used the same name to designate such persons as they used for stage performers, namely actors.
Most of Cicero’s reflective comments about politics were penned after he had entirely withdrawn from political life. He rather specialised in sarcasm and invective and tended to dodge solid political issues. Indeed, throughout his career he proved to be somewhat of a political chameleon, changing himself to blend in with the political realities at the time. Because he was so intent on making an impression on his audience the emperor Augustus (Octavian) found him easy to manipulate, or so Plutarch claimed:
And Cæsar himself confessed, that in fear of ruin, and in danger of being deserted, he had seasonably made use of Cicero’s ambition, persuading him to stand with him, and to accept the offer of his aid and interest for the consulship.
Cicero was so obsessed by his longing for popularity and fame that he fell into deep depression when he discovered no one in Rome had heard about his achievements as a 29-year old magistrate in Sicily. But this only egged him on to do better at promoting himself before the gaze of the public. While Plutarch notes many admirable traits and actions he nevertheless characterises Cicero as follows:
…he was always excessively pleased with his own praise, and continued to the very last to be passionately fond of glory; which often interfered with the prosecution of his wisest resolutions.
In a Literal History of Rome from the Origins to the Close of the Golden Age, J. Wight Duff identifies as Cicero’s chief faults his “prolixity and conceit.” Summarising four speeches of Cicero he comments:
But it is self-praise which is most wearisome. He keeps too well his promise not to forget his services. His pride over saving Rome – which at times he ascribes to divine guidance as well as to his own energy – induces him to link his glory with Pompey’s as a saviour of the Eastern domains. Pompey’s failure to respond chagrined but could not silence him. So it is usually on self alone – and not on Pompey or the gods – that Cicero harps.
Doubtless Cicero was a complex character with many admirable characteristics. But this central flaw in his character brings to mind an encounter between Jesus and his opponents. After stressing that he himself did not accept praise from men Jesus asks:
How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God? (John 5:44)
Jesus declared: “I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge” (John 8:50).
Paul reminds us:
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).
Cicero’s life came to a tragic end. After he was assassinated at Mark Antony’s command, Antony had his head and hands hung in the Rostra in Rome, where the orators spoke.
Posted June 16, 2010
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