How to Win an Election: An Ancient Guide for Modern Politicians

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers

by Quintus Tullius Cicero, Philip Freeman

"How to Win an Election" is an ancient Roman guide for campaigning that is as up-to-date as tomorrow's headlines. In 64 BC when idealist Marcus Cicero, Rome's greatest orator, ran for consul (the highest office in the Republic), his practical brother Quintus decided he needed some no-nonsense advice on running a successful campaign. What follows in his short letter are timeless bits of political wisdom, from the importance of promising everything to everybody and reminding voters about the sexual scandals of your opponents to being a chameleon, putting on a good show for the masses, and constantly surrounding yourself with rabid supporters. Presented here in a lively and colorful new translation, with the Latin text on facing pages, this unashamedly pragmatic primer on the humble art of personal politicking is dead-on (Cicero won)--and as relevant today as when it was written.

A little-known classic in the spirit of Machiavelli's "Prince", "How to Win an Election" is required reading for politicians and everyone who enjoys watching them try to manipulate their way into office.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History, Classics, Philosophy, Audiobook, Ancient History

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 65

About the author

Quintus Tullius Cicero (/ˈsɪsɨroʊ/; Classical Latin: [ˈkɪkɛroː]; 102 BC – 43 BC) was the younger brother of the celebrated orator, philosopher and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero. He was born into a family of the equestrian order, as the son of a wealthy landowner in Arpinum, some 100 kilometres south-east of Rome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quintus_...

Reviews

[Mohammad Hrabal · Rating 3 out of 5]

۱۴۰۴/۰۲/۳۱

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can think of someone running for high office right now that could use this book (you can fill in the blank). Or maybe...don't read this book; just keep doing what you are doing! There is lots of wisdom here; wisdom that out elected representatives seem to have forgotten. This book will also be of great interest to those seeking to change public policy.

[Seyed Hashemi · Rating 3 out of 5]

این متن از لحاظِ "متن کلاسیک"بودن متنی مهمه و خوندش در بستر تاریخی روم باستان، مختصات سیاست باستان، رتوریک باستانی و آشنایی با سیسرون متن مهمیه.
واقعا خوندنش برای "امروزه" که از قضی هدفِ این سری متون کلاسیکِ انتشارات دانشگاه پرینستونه، خیلی مناسب نیست. البته فکر کنم علاوه‌بر اهمیتی که کتاب برای رشته‌هایی مثل مطالعات کلاسیک و... داره، اصل اهمیت نسخهٔ انتشارات دانشگاه پرینستون، دوزبانه بودن کتاب است که در کنار ترجمهٔ به‌روز انگلیسی این نامهٔ سیسرون، نسخهٔ اصلی و لاتین نامه هم هست که برای آموزش و تمرین زبان لاتین دانشجویانه. خلاصه، اینجوریاست به نظرم.
قطعا آورده‌هایی برای فهم سیاست مدرن در کتاب هست، ولی غنای لازم رو نداره واقعا و باید خیلی مماشات کنی با این جزوه/نامه که اینجوری مفید بفهمیش.

در ضمن، کتاب رو با این ترجمه فارسی نخوندم و از مجلدِ "خرد و سیاست" نشر کرگدن با ترجمهٔ محمد اسماعیل فلزی خوندم. از سری کتاب‌های "مطالعات کلاسیک" نشر کرگدن است که به دبیری مالک حسینی منتشر می‌شه. مالک حسینی هم آدم جالبیه واقعا.

زیاده حرفی نیست.

[Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Politics is full of deceit, treachery, and betrayal."

"For a candidate must be a chameleon, adapting to each person he meets, changing his expression and speech as necessary."

"The most important part of your campaigns to bring hope to people and a feeling of goodwill toward you."

In his letter, Quintus Cicero advises his brother Marcus Cicero on how to win an election. The advice that Quintus gives Marcus rings true even in 21st-century American politics and probably globally. The letter is mostly serious but at times is even funny. As I read I wondered whether Quintus was giving him good advice considering they are brothers and all. Not only is he supportive of his brother by telling him about his strengths as a candidate he also informs him about his weaknesses. Quintus also provides opposition research on Marcus's two opponents: Catiline and Antoninus who were alleged to have committed sex scandals, torture, and abuse. I think you will enjoy this book if you love politics. It's very short and you can finish it in an hour.

[Ellen Andrews]

just trying to help some 8th graders get elected to student council out here

update: they won!!! thanks cicero

[J TC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essencialmente uma curiosidade histórica. Eventualmente uma surpresas para aqueles que veem o homem moderno como um produto sofisticado de 10.000 anos de civilização. A surpresa é para esse pois efectivamente pouco devemos ter biologicamente evoluído nos últimos 30.000 anos. A ter mudado alguma coisa foi a nossa noosfera. E este livro demonstra-o com clareza. O político do séc I AC não difere dos mais sofisticados do séc XXI.
Uma má tradução. Achar que à época havia Itália, italiano e publicidade é ignorância

[Alex Pler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si algo me gusta de leer buenos clásicos es que ayudan a entender nuestro mundo. Este 'Breviario de campaña electoral' lo podría haber escrito ayer mismo el hermano del cónsul Cicerón: promesas electorales que no se cumplen, concesiones necesarias, pago de favores, fake news para perjudicar al adversario...

[Michael Finocchiaro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Compared to the book I read by Cardinal Mazarin, this one was less intriguing. Perhaps it was the flat translation or just the distance in time between now and ancient Rome, but the exchanges here between the Cicero brothers brought me little insight into how campaigns are run or their personalities. Maybe I need to read it again in a few years? Or perhaps read some of the rhetoric of Cicero to fully appreciate his style. Anyway, this one didn't really do it for me.

[Salem Lorot · Rating 3 out of 5]

The more things change, the more they remain the same. I could identify with most of the pieces of advice given and how politicians exploit them. We just had an election in Kenya, so it was great to go through this short book and reflect on a couple of things in the book. It is the kind of book you read in-between books (well, for the polygamous readers out there, you catch the drift?)

I realized that as a politician, Quintus Tullius Cicero advises, you would rather promise something that you may not deliver than to say no in an outright manner. Electorates don't take it kindly when you tell them you won't do something. However, when you fail to deliver it later, they would be forgiving if you come up with a reason or an excuse, something along the lines of changed circumstances that were unforeseen.

I have also learnt that you need to remind those who owe you (say you did something to them at some point) to return your favour. And your family must be behind you. And you need to pull crowds, have people with you always.

One final thing is that Quintus does not mention bribery of voters. However, in modern politics in Kenya, the voters demand money. I am happy that the book does not mention bribery of voters and I hope our society espouses such values as incorruptibility.

[Aurelius · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read and it somewhat felt like a continuation of Carnegies ‘How to win friends and influence people’.

[Nnamdi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book at a Barnes and Nobles bookstore, on a table of books that was in front of the entrance. I picked up the little book, read the jacket cover and the back of the book, that had the endorsements of Karl 'The Architect' Rove, former U.S. Senator Gary Hart, and decided that it was worth picking up to read on the train.

The book, which was translated by Philip Freeman, who also writes the introduction, was taken from the ancient Latin text the Conmmentariolum Petitionis, a short pamphlet of political advice that was supposedly written by Quintus Tillius Cicero for his older brother, Marcus Tillius Cicero, considered to be "the greatest orator Rome ever produced", who was running for the office of consul, the highest office in Rome, in the summer of 64 B.C. This was before the Caesars came into the picture and there are some connections to Julius Caesar that were made in the intro. Marcus was running as an outsider, since he wasn't of noble birth, even though he was well educated and known for his successes as a politician and lawyer, and so probably needed all the help and practical advice that he could get.

The saying, "the more things change, the more they stay the same," is the best description, in my opinion, of the relevance of this book. It was amazing to me how the politics of Rome, at that time, isn't that much different from today's politics, especially the recently concluded U.S. elections. From the attack ads, to the campaign promises, to the soundbites, good or bad, to the calling in of favors and more, it seems like today's politicians and campaign strategists are still following the advice of Quintus. This book was enjoyable, and I think that it's a must for those who are interested in either getting into politics or those, like me, who are interested in politics. And other books are included at the end of the book, for those who want to go further in their 'studies.'

I'll be definitely rereading this little book in the next four years, or even sooner...

[Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another one of those interesting little books that have been popping up lately on Rome. The book is based on a letter from Quintus Tullius Cicero to his more famous orator brother Marcus Cicero on how to deal to an upcoming election. It reads remarkably like what a modern campaign manager would say and for those who might be disillusioned it show that cynicism in politics has been with us forever. Some of the advice is insightful - remember names,some are practical - promise everyone everything and deliver what you can and some are underhanded - gossip is sometimes more useful than truth.

The text has the original Latin on one side and the translation on the other. A handy little book and in some ways useful as a study in human behavior.

[Massimo Pigliucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great example of why reading the classics is not just a pastime for nerds but is actually very useful. Quintus Cicero was the brother of the more famous public advocate, statesman, and philosopher Marcus Cicero. Quintus here gives his brother extremely practical advice on how to win the election as Consul, which Cicero in fact did. Much of the text is still full of excellent tips for modern politicians. Moreover, Quintus’ analysis of voters is also pretty much on target today. The more things change, the more they stay the same… The volume is part of the excellent ongoing series put out by Princeton Press, Classic Wisdom for a Modern Readers.

[Cody Sexton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The advice contained herein is as relevant now as it was then.

[Sineala · Rating 3 out of 5]

This translation of the Commentariolum Petitionis was put out, I am assuming, in an effort to capitalize on, well, all the people who might be interested in reading something a bit more classic for the US election season. Count me in. I was actually trying to get through all of it in Latin before Election Day; that didn't happen, so I gave up and read the second half in translation.

I am not a classicist and as such had never heard of the Commentariolum before I found it mentioned in the by-line of the translator's NYT article on negative campaigns in Pompeii; I figured it would be interesting. Assuming you believe it is genuine, the Commentariolum was written as advice by Quintus to his elder brother Marcus (yes, that Cicero) about how he should conduct his 64 BC campaign for the consulship. Basically: make friends, make promises, and let me tell you how your opponents are awful people. (Given that one of them was Catiline, it's not much of a stretch.)

I am assuming that most people buying this are buying and reading it for the new English translation; it's a bilingual (facing translation) edition, but it's the sort of edition where the Latin is there to look pretty, because it's not like there are any notes or commentary. However, if you're interested in reading the Latin, let me suggest this edition to you as a cheap way to get a decent clean copy of the text in a cute little hardcover. Sure, you could read it on Perseus for free, but the Perseus text is riddled with OCR errors. (There is also a translation on Perseus for free, but I don't think it will have a lot of popular appeal; it is basically translation-ese.)

I had fun reading the Latin text; there were some nice turns of phrase in it. However, I was not a great fan of the English translation. It was much more a paraphrase than a translation, and it left out a lot of the really charming things about Latin. (Where did my tricolon crescens go?) A lot of cultural terms were simplified -- "equites" = "businessmen," uh, okay, I guess. The translation managed to make it sound like the entire Roman patronage system was just cynical and nefarious political gladhanding, which... well, it could be true, but it was also just what you did, or such has been my impression. The English text was very flowing and readable, but it didn't feel like I was reading the same book, and so I don't think I can rate this book that highly.

Still recommended for anyone who wants to read something about politics in the Roman Republic, and it's a fun thing to have as a possible primary source, but this wouldn't be my first choice as a recommendation.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should you be concerned about the nature of today's elections, take a look at campaign strategy 2000 years ago. The key difference: John Stuart wasn't there in the Daily show to show news clips of Marcus Cicero making promises to one group while promising the opposite to another.


The test s how both the original Latin and and an English translation.

[Henry Manampiring · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's very short because it is a letter from Quintus Cicero to his brother Marcus. It is very good and pleasant to read. Politics (and politicians) haven't changed much for the last 2,000 years.

[Enrique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es una breve carta donde le da unos consejos prácticos a un familiar para ganar las elecciones.

Hay varias cosas que a pesar de los 2000 años de distancia siguen vigentes:

Hacer sentir a los electores importantes (incluso tenían esclavos que se encargaban de memorizar los nombres, los nomencladores)

Prometer en lugar de negarse: es mejor hacer promesas que queden en el aire, al final son una esperanza, a negarse del todo, a hacer un favor.

Hacer favores y regalos, recordad quien nos debe favores. A la larga, la promesa de que a futuro les hará más favores en su nuevo cargo mantiene viva la confianza.

Incluso se asume que hay corrupción e igual no es vista como un problema: a larga siempre habrá algunos que por convicción apoyarán una elección.

Excelente libro, entretenido.

[Rodrigo Paredes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un pequeñísimo libro que contiene una carta que Quinto Tulio Cicerón redactó a su hermano el grande Marco Tulio Cicerón. En ella le detalla, sin ningún tipo de censura, diferentes técnicas que podría utilizar para ganar las próximas elecciones de cónsul.

Este libro es para cualquier persona interesada en la historia clásica y política.

Si eres político ¡no te des ideas!
Si eres ciudadano ¡Que ni te hagan menso!

[Akshay · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Cicero’s Campaign Playbook: 2,000 Years Later, Still Winning Elections”

How to Win an Election by Quintus Tullius Cicero is a concise, yet timeless guide on political strategy, offering advice from the late Roman Republic that resonates deeply with modern political campaigns.

Written in 64 BCE as a letter from Quintus to his brother Marcus Tullius Cicero—who was running for consul, the highest office in the Roman Republic—the text reveals the complex blend of persuasion, manipulation, and public relations required to succeed in political contests. What makes this short treatise remarkable is not just its historical significance but its enduring relevance in contemporary politics.

The book is structured as a manual for aspiring politicians, filled with pragmatic, sometimes cynical advice that is as applicable to modern elections as it was in ancient Rome.

Key Lessons in Political Strategy

One of the core lessons in How to Win an Election is the importance of knowing and engaging with the electorate. Quintus emphasizes that winning over the masses requires the candidate to be personable, accessible, and capable of forming personal relationships with key groups. He insists that Marcus befriend important societal figures, from aristocrats to common voters, a tactic mirrored in modern politics where candidates spend substantial time courting endorsements from influential figures or key voter demographics.

For example, Quintus advises his brother to "remember names and use them often," which directly parallels modern-day retail politics, where candidates are encouraged to form personal connections with voters by remembering their names and stories. Politicians today, like U.S. President Bill Clinton or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have been lauded for their ability to make voters feel personally recognized and valued—a key component of what Cicero’s letter suggests.

Quintus also highlights the importance of building a broad coalition of supporters, a strategy that can be seen in contemporary coalition-building efforts. Politicians like Barack Obama, who famously constructed a broad-based electoral coalition spanning different racial, socioeconomic, and generational groups, epitomize the ancient advice of uniting different factions to secure a decisive win.

The Use of Flattery and Promises

A somewhat more Machiavellian element of Quintus’s advice is his endorsement of flattery and making promises—whether or not they can be kept. He urges his brother to offer hope and promises to voters, even if fulfilling them will be difficult. Quintus suggests that it is better to be well-liked and to create expectations, arguing that people forget about unfulfilled promises but will not forget a candidate’s charisma and charm.

This mirrors modern political campaigns where grandiose promises often fuel electoral success, even if they are difficult to deliver in practice. Quintus’s notion of making promises, whether realistic or not, echoes recent campaign tactics like Donald Trump’s "Build the Wall" pledge or Brexit advocates promising the return of sovereignty and wealth to the UK, ideas that resonated with the electorate but faced significant challenges in practical implementation.

Media and Public Image

Another strikingly modern aspect of Quintus’s advice is the focus on public image and handling public perception, something that dominates modern elections through the use of media. Quintus warns his brother to beware of scandal and gossip, urging him to maintain a respectable public persona while using charisma to win over the electorate. This echoes the heavy emphasis today on managing optics, with politicians carefully crafting their media appearances and public statements to avoid controversy or scandal.

A contemporary example is the strategic use of social media in political campaigns. Just as Quintus instructed Marcus to cultivate his public image in face-to-face interactions with the Roman public, modern politicians cultivate their image through Twitter, Instagram, and public relations campaigns.

Politicians like Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Narendra Modi have used social media to directly engage voters, control narratives, and create personal connections, much like Quintus recommended for face-to-face interactions in ancient Rome.

Caution Against Enemies and Rivals

Quintus repeatedly warns his brother of the dangers posed by political rivals and enemies. He advises Marcus to be cautious, always anticipating potential betrayals or attacks from opponents. This wariness is reminiscent of the modern political arena, where candidates must navigate a minefield of opposition attacks, smear campaigns, and rival strategies. In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Hillary Clinton’s campaign had to constantly contend with attacks and opposition from multiple directions, including Russian interference and internal leaks. Quintus’s advice to stay vigilant and to anticipate the moves of rivals is timeless in its relevance.

Conclusion: Timeless Lessons for Politicians

How to Win an Election offers a candid and shrewd exploration of political strategy that remains strikingly relevant today. Quintus Tullius Cicero’s insights on coalition-building, voter engagement, promises, image management, and rivalry all reflect timeless truths about the nature of electoral politics. The book’s brevity adds to its charm, distilling wisdom into easily digestible portions that resonate with contemporary political challenges.

For anyone interested in politics—whether as a candidate, campaign strategist, or simply a student of history—this ancient Roman guide remains a must-read. Its ancient lessons on human nature, power, and persuasion offer a fascinating lens through which to view modern elections, proving that some aspects of political life have changed very little in over two millennia.

*Spoiler: The advice in this ancient text is eerily applicable to today's political campaigns, showing how little the essence of politics has changed since Rome.*

[Khairul Hezry · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a pamphlet than a book really. The publisher included the original letter Cicero wrote in Latin side by side with the translation probably to pad the pages to make the book worthwhile to publish.

Anyway, it's a very interesting, no-holds-barred collection of tips from one brother to another. The latter being Marcus Cicero who was running for Consul but has no political pedigree. What he had was his oratorical skills and while that was a huge advantage, his brother Quintus advised him to do other stuff to gain an upper hand. They were, among others: promise everything to everyone, find out if your opponents have dirty little secrets (and expose them), give the people hope, gather support from all levels of society especially those ignored by your rivals.

These tactics and more are not strange to us today. Reading Cicero's letter to his brother is like reading Karl Rove's or Steve Bannon's email to their respective bosses. Nothing has changed.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Or, to give it it's Latin title, Commentariolum Petitionis.

A delightful little primer on electioneering that should still be read today. Although given the apparently timely nature of its advice, perhaps modern politicians are, in fact, still reading it today. Or maybe little brother Quintus invented the art of negative advertising. He reminds brother Marcus to dredge up opponents' sexual scandals. And to smile at everyone. And my favourite: to promise everyone everything because voters will be angrier if you don't promise them something, than when you later excuse yourself and break your promise.

"Id, si promittas, et incertum est et in diem et in paucioribus; sin autem neges, et certe abalienes et statim et plures."

[Peter Toth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book is attributed to Quintus Tullius Cicero (younger brother of Marcus, the famous orator) and contains tips and tricks for his brother during his campaign for the consular office in 64bc. It is one of the most contested times in that century, post Sulla - pre Ceasarian civil war. It paints a vivid picture of 1st century bc roman politics, the priorities and ways suggested for making sure obtaining the coveted office under the cursus honorum. Cicero was a famous homo novus, meaning that none of his forefathers actually attained any of the higher offices of the republic previously. There are only a handful of examples known for such feats, Cicero being undoubtedly the most famous.

The rivals for the consular year 63bc (Antonius and Catilina) are painted in such a way that's reminiscent of today's hate filled electoral campaigns in the "civilized west". The stakes were great as usual, the Catilina revolt and Cicero's handling of it during his consulship ultimately characterized the zenith of Marcus Tullius Cicero's political career. The subsequent banishment of Cicero a few years later just highlight the fact that with the rapid changes in political power, anything and its reverse can be true at the same time, depending on who's in power at a given time...

In all honesty, looking at 20th-21st democracy and the election process, not much has changed and today's electoral hopefuls still resort to the same, in many cases unethical ways of attaining office. Buying votes, manipulation of the people and popular sentiment is as much a characteristics of today's "democratic" elections and it was in 1st century bc Rome or Athens a few hundred years ealier. These tips contained in this book are those of an "insider" in today's terms, and this was certainly not for general publication.

1 extra star for the accompanying notes and summaries in this Hungarian edition, which are very detailed and help to digest the whole material.

[Felipe · Rating 2 out of 5]

El contenido es una curiosidad. Es interesante y se lee en una hora. Es reconfortante hallar estos textos antiguos siendo reeditados en la actualidad. Propongo leerlo como una carta a ratos íntima más que como un manual.

La nota es baja por la edición, que es pésima: el tamaño de la letra es desproporcionadamente grande para el formato, al igual que la interlínea. Se torna cansino bien rápido. Da la sensación de que sólo necesitaban que se acercase a las 100 páginas lo más posible como para poder venderlo, considerando lo bien diseñado que están otros aspectos como las notas o las cursivas para el latín. Mala volá de acantilado.

[Brayden Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no rating applicable other than 5 stars. Everything that Cicero speaks of resonates 2000 years later. It is all still mostly true or can be applied to today. I find myself feeling as though I've only grasped at the beginnings of what I can learn from Quintus and perhaps his brother as well.

[Nihad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quintus Cicero’nun böyük qardaşı Marcus Cicero’ya yazdığı məktubların kitab halına salınmış Siyaset Sanatı, özündə Roma konsulu (baş nazir vəzifəsinə bənzəyir) olmaq istəyən Marcus’un situasiyasına spesifik məsləhətlər toplusu barındırır. Əsər həmçinin oxuyucunu Romanın daxili siyasəti ilə biraz tanış edir.

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quintus Tullius Cicero, the younger brother of the more famous Marcus, who was among the greatest orators of the late Roman Republic [1], apparently wrote this delightful little book in a lengthy letter to his older brother about how to win an election. In understanding this book, the word “an” becomes rather important. Within this book there are two different ways this word can be understood as far as its larger significance. The author, a somewhat cynical and worldly wise Roman of his time, gives advice to his somewhat stiff and reserved but ambitious older brother on how to win a particular election given the weakness of the field, which allowed Cicero, despite only being from the upper middle class of the period, to win a spot that ensured his spot for himself and his family in the aristocratic nobility by winning the consular election in 64BC. That said, the author’s points, despite their weakness in not focusing on message, as Karl Rove drily points out in his back cover blurb for the book, are applicable today for modern politicians [2] in how to win through glad-handing, promising the moon, and negative smear campaigns.

In terms of its contents, this book is to the point and direct. If one did not have the quirky and idiosyncratic Latin original text on the left side of the page, and one was only reading the English translation, only a change of names would be necessary to make it impossible to determine if the text had been written in 64BC or at any point later than about 1972 in the United States concerning its political worldview. Despite its short length, barely 100 pages even when considering that half of it is in Latin, and most of the rest is made up of explanatory notes, an introductory text, a glossary and suggestions for further reading, this is a book that contains a great deal of worthwhile advice with an edge and a brutal honesty that is remarkable even more than 2000 years later, in a fresh translation by contemporary classicist Philip Freeman. About his text, the translator states: “Translating the text of the Commentariolum Petitionis is no easy task. The Latin is at times obscure, while the manuscripts passed down to us have been corrupted at several points. I have tried to make my translation accessible, colloquial, and as clear as possible to modern readers, while remaining faithful to the sense of the original text (xxiii).” Mission accomplished.

So, how did Quintus advise his elder brother on how to win the most prestigious election in Roman republican society? For one, he advised his brother to make winning the election his focus, not taking time off, not wasting time by going on vacation, but by showing the Roman populace his support and working constantly to demonstrate the strength of his own coalition, his ability to work over often neglected suburban and rural voters in the area around Rome, and in calling in his political favors won through his oratory as a lawyer for the elites as well as a protégé of populist Roman aristocrat Pompey. He advised his brother, who could come off as stiff as Obama or Romney, to work on being more charming and charismatic, putting on a front of friendliness and cheeriness, and paying attention to remembering people and paying close attention to them in conversation rather than allowing himself to get lost in thought and reflection as he was wont to do. Most cynically, he advised his brother to run a campaign to show continual activity and support among elites and community leaders and the like and smear his opponents ruthlessly, since his elite competitors for the consulate were scandal-ridden second raters like the notorious Catiline, whose rebellion against the republic upon the loss of his second consul election in a row was easily crushed thanks to the oratorical skills of Marcus Cicero. Although Cicero was successful in his campaign, he ultimately fell prey to the hostility of the successors to Julius Caesar during the fall of the Republic some twenty years after this successful campaign. All earthly glory is passing, after all. This is a text well worth reading, though, since its principles continue to be practiced today by the Machiavellian modern equivalents of Quintus Tullius Cicero in our contemporary political milieu.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

[2] See, for example:

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[Lina H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

his latin is slightly more intelligible than his brother’s and that i something i have to commend

[David Escobar Arango · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Suspiro) Veinte siglos después, el mundo entero es como Roma. La condición humana, poco o nada se puede hacer. ¿O sí?

[౨ৎ Allison ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok bro say less 😭