“Hatreds not vowed and concealed are to be feared more than those openly declared.”
- January 3, 106 BC – December 7, 43 BC
- Roman
- Orator, Philosopher, Statesman, Lawyer, Author
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Quote
“Hatreds not vowed and concealed are to be feared more than those openly declared.”
Explanation
Cicero warns that hidden enmity is more dangerous than open hostility. While declared hatreds can be confronted or defended against, those that are concealed—masked by politeness or silence—pose a greater threat, because they strike without warning and often operate through deceit, betrayal, or intrigue. It is a caution against naïveté in personal and political relationships, where the appearance of peace may disguise intent to harm.
This idea is deeply rooted in Cicero’s experiences during the turbulent fall of the Roman Republic, when political plots and shifting alliances frequently led to assassination, exile, or civil war. He knew firsthand that public enemies were less dangerous than supposed allies who plotted in secret. The quote reflects a statesman’s wisdom: that trust must be given with discernment, and that the absence of conflict does not always mean the presence of loyalty.
In modern terms, the quote remains powerfully relevant in contexts from politics to personal relationships. Covert hostility—whether in the form of passive aggression, manipulation, or quiet sabotage—can be more corrosive and unpredictable than open confrontation. Cicero’s words advise us to be alert not only to the noise of conflict, but to the silence where danger quietly gathers.
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