Quotations about:
    conspirator


Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.


But if they should seek only revels and mistresses in wine and in the dice, they might be so despaired of indeed, but still they would be endurable. But who can endure this, that indolent fellows should lie in wait for the bravest men, the most foolish for the most prudent, the drunken for the sober, the sleeping for those lying awake? Who, reclining at banquets, embracing unchaste women, exhausted with wine, gorged with food, crowned with wreaths, besmeared with perfumes, debilitated by debaucheries, in their conversations belch out the slaughter of the good and the conflagrations of the city.

[Quod si in vino et alea comissationes solum et scorta quaererent, essent illi quidem desperandi, sed tamen essent ferendi: hoc vero quis ferre possit, inertis homines fortissimis viris insidiari, stultissimos prudentissimis, ebrios sobriis, dormientis vigilantibus? Qui mihi accubantes in conviviis, complexi mulieres impudicas, vino languidi, conferti cibo, sertis redimiti, unguentis obliti, debilitati stupris eructant sermonibus suis caedem bonorum atque urbis incendia.]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
Orationes in Catilinam [Catilinarian Orations], No. 2, ch. 5 / § 10 (2.5.10) (63-11-09 BC) [tr. Mongan (1879)]
    (Source)

Excoriating the wastrel followers of Catelline.

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

Now if amidst their Drinking and Gaming, they only regarded Riot and Whoring, they were indeed little hopeful, but yet tolerable. But who can endure this, that Cowards should lay wait for the Valiant, Fools for the Wise, Sots for the Sober, Sluggards for the Vigilant? That sit me at Treats with their Misses in their Laps, their Brains swimming with Wine, Stomachs over charged with Meat, Garlands on their Heads, daubed with Sweet Oyntment, weakned with Whoring, and belch out in their talk the slaughter of the honest Party and the firing of the City.
[tr. Wase (1671)]

But if debauchery and the gratification of inordinate desires had been their only object, they might still deserve some lenity; their gaming-tables, their banquets, and their harlots might be in some degree forgiven: the men, it is true, would have been lost to every virtue, but the commonwealth would have been safe. The case is now very different: that cowards should lie in ambush for the brave; that fools should lay snares for the wise and good; that sots and drunkards should plot against the sober, and sluggards combine against the vigilant; this who can bear? And it is by such despicable traitors that the city is thrown into consternation; by a set of abandoned wretches, lolling at ease on their convivial couches, caressing their strumpets, intoxicated with liquor, crowned with garlands, sweetened with perfumes, and enervated by their vicious pleasures. Men do that description take upon them to reform the state; over their cups they disgorge their treasonable designs, and in bitter execrations devote us all to destruction.
[tr. Sydney (1795)]

But if in their drinking and gambling parties they were content with feasts and harlots, they would be in a hopeless state indeed; but yet they might be endured. But who can bear this, -- that indolent men should plot against the bravest, -- drunkards against the sober, -- men asleep against men awake, -- men lying at feasts, embracing abandoned women, languid with wine, crammed with food, crowned with chaplets, reeking with ointments, worn out with lust, belch out in their discourse the murder of all good men, and the conflagration of the city?
[tr. Yonge (1856)]

But if in wine and dice they might seek only revellings and prostitutes, they would be to be despaired of indeed; but yet they would be to be borne. But who may be able to bear this, (for) inactive men to lie in wait for the bravest men, the most foolish for the most prudent, the drunken for the sober, the sleeping for the watching? Who (for me), reclining in banquets, having embraced unchaste women, languid with wine, filled with food, crowned with garlands, besmeared with perfumes, weakened with debaucheries, belch out in their discourses the slaughter of the good, and the conflagrations of the city.
[tr. Underwood (1885)]

But if in wine and dice they were seeking only street revellings and prostitutes, they must be despaired of indeed; but yet they must be endured. But who many be able to endure this, (that) idle men [fellows] to [should] lie in wait for the bravest men, the most foolish for the most prudent, the drunken for the sober, the sleeping fo the watchin? Who I say, reclining in banquets, having embraced unchaste women, sluggish with wine, crammed with food, wreathed with garlands, besmeared with perfumes, weakened with debaucheries, belch forth in their discourses the slaughter of the good, and the conflagrations of the city.
[tr. Dewey (1916)]

Now, if during their drinking and gambling bouts they merely caroused and whored, they would be hopeless enough cases, it is true, yet they could be put up with all the same. But what is unbearable is that these spiritless, stupid, drunken, somnolent brutes should be plotting to cut down citizens who are pre-eminent for their courage and wisdom and sobriety and energy. For as these individuals recline at their banquets and embrace their harlots, dazed by wine and stuffed by food, garlanded with wreathes and smothered with scents and riddled with every sort of lewdness, the vomit which issues from their mouths consists of talk about massacring every loyal citizen and burning the city to the ground.
[tr. Grant (1960)]

 
Added on 18-Apr-24 | Last updated 18-Apr-24
Link to this post | No comments
Topics: , , , , ,
More quotes by Cicero, Marcus Tullius

When, O Catiline, do you mean to cease abusing our patience? How long is that madness of yours still to mock us? When is there to be an end of that unbridled audacity of yours, swaggering about as it does now?

[Quo usque tandem abutere, Catilina, patientia nostra? Quam diu etiam furor iste tuus nos eludet? Quem ad finem sese effrenata iactabit audacia?]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
Orationes in Catilinam [Catilinarian Orations], No. 1, § 1, cl. 1 (1.1.1) (63-11-08 BC) [tr. Yonge (1856)]
    (Source)

Urging Catiline, leader of a conspiracy against the Roman government, to leave the city.

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

How long, Catiline, will you abuse our patience? How long shall that fury of yours hector down even us too? To what bound shall your unbridled Audaciousness fly out?
[tr. Wase (1671)]

How long, Catiline, will you dare to abuse our patience? how long are we to be the sport of your frantic fury? to what extremity do you mean to carry your unbridled insolence?
[tr. Sydney (1795)]

How far at length, O Catiline! wilt thou trifle with our patience? How long still shall that frenzy of thine baffle us? To what limit shall they uncurbed effrontery boastfully display itself?
[tr. Mongan (1879)]

How far at length wilt thou abuse with our patience, O Catiline? How long also that thy fury will elude us? To what end thy unbridled audacity will boast itself?
[tr. Underwood (1885)]

How much further, Catilina, will you carry your abuse of our forbearance? How much longer will your reckless temper baffle our restraint? What bounds will you set to this display of your uncontrolled audacity?
[tr. Blakiston (1894)]

How far at length will you abuse, O Catiline, our patience? How long also will that fury of yours elude us? To what end will that unbridled audacity flaunt itself?
[tr. Dewey (1916)]

In the name of heaven, Catilina, how long do you propose to exploit our patience? Do you really suppose that your lunatic activities are going to escape our retaliation for evermore? Are there to be no limits to this audacious, uncontrollable swaggering?
[tr. Grant (1960)]

How far will you continue to abuse our patience, Catiline? For how much longer will that rage of yours make a mockery of us? To what point will your unbridled audacity show itself?
[IB Notes]

 
Added on 8-Feb-24 | Last updated 8-Feb-24
Link to this post | No comments
Topics: , , , , , , ,
More quotes by Cicero, Marcus Tullius

Ambition makes more trusty slaves than need.

Ben Jonson (1572-1637) English playwright and poet
Sejanus, His Fall, Act 1, sc. 2 (1603)
    (Source)
 
Added on 2-Aug-17 | Last updated 2-Aug-17
Link to this post | No comments
Topics: , , , , , , , ,
More quotes by Jonson, Ben