Cicero
Orator, philosopher, statesman
The greatest orator of antiquity and the man who made Greek philosophy speak Latin. His speeches, letters, and philosophical dialogues were the stylistic model for Renaissance humanism — Petrarch's rediscovery of his letters helped ignite the revival of classical learning.
Key works
- On the Republic~54 BC— The best form of government
- On Duties44 BC— Ethics for public life
- Orations against Catiline63 BC— The most famous speeches in Latin