On Ambition and Literature, Both Latin and Greek: Cicero

Interesting passage from Cicero: shows the ambition caused by Greek and Roman poets’

writings.

“Poētae per litterās hominibus magnam perpetuamque fāmam dare possunt; multī virī, igitur,

litterās dē suīs rēbus scrībī cupiunt. Trahimur omnēs studiō laudis et multī glōriā dūcuntur, quae

aut in litterīs Graecīs aut Latīnīs invenīrī potest. Quī, autem, videt multum frūctum glōriae in

versibus Latīnīs sed nōn in Graecīs, nimium errat, quod litterae Graecae leguntur in omnibus ferē

gentibus, sed Latīnae in fīnibus suīs continentur.”

Excerpt From

Wheelock's Latin

Richard A. LaFleur

My Translation: 

The poets were able to give great and perpetual fame to humankind through letters; many men,

therefore, wish letters to be written about their own things. All of us were dragged by the pursuit

of praise and they were lead by much glory, which are able to be found either in Greek letters or

Latin letters. Who however, will see much enjoyment of glory in the Latin verses, but not in

Greeks, wanders too much, because Greeks letters are almost read in all clans, but they will be

contained in their own boundaries of Latin.