“The enemy is within the gates; it is with our own luxury, our own folly, our own criminality that we have to contend.”
- January 3, 106 BC – December 7, 43 BC
- Roman
- Orator, Philosopher, Statesman, Lawyer, Author
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Quote
“The enemy is within the gates; it is with our own luxury, our own folly, our own criminality that we have to contend.”
Explanation
Cicero warns that the greatest threats to a society often come from within, not from foreign invaders. By stating that “the enemy is within the gates”, he identifies moral decay—luxury, folly, and criminality—as internal forces of destruction. These traits, if left unchecked, can undermine the foundations of a state more effectively than any external enemy. The emphasis on self-inflicted decline reflects a belief that a republic falls not through conquest, but through corruption.
This quote echoes Cicero’s deep concern for the health of the Roman Republic during its final years. As a senator and philosopher, he witnessed firsthand the rise of greed, political ambition, and ethical collapse. His words are a call to vigilance and reform, urging citizens to focus not on imagined threats but on the erosion of civic virtue and responsibility within their own society.
In contemporary terms, this message remains strikingly relevant. Nations today often focus on external enemies, yet many societal failures stem from internal issues such as inequality, moral complacency, and systemic injustice. Cicero’s insight challenges us to recognize that the preservation of a free and just society depends on the strength of its values and the conduct of its citizens, not merely on military defense or economic might.
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