The Republic And The Laws

Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman philosopher, orator and Statesman. He insisted on the primacy of moral standards over government laws. In fact, he called the moral standard “universal natural law.” Above all, Cicero declared, government is morally obliged to protect human life and private property. When government runs amok, people have a right to rebel—Cicero honored daring individuals who helped overthrow tyrants. His writings affected men like John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu and no other than Thomas Jefferson who called Cicero the first master of the world. Cicero’s thoughts on natural law, morality, governing and right of the common man to overthrow tyranny influenced the creation of the Declaration of Independence.

On the Laws

The Republic