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Through most of American history, calling someone a Cicero was the highest democratic honor. John Adams wrote of the Roman orator, that \u201cas all the ages of the world have not produced a greater statesman and philosopher united in the same character, his authority should have great weight.\u201d\xa0Thomas Jefferson said Cicero was \u201cthe father of eloquence and philosophy\u201d\xa0John Quincy Adams dramatically said that if he did not have book of Cicero at hand it was having to live without "of one of my limbs.\u201d\xa0And a young Abraham Lincoln reading from a borrowed library benefited greatly from his works, as well as others.\xa0\xa0\nWe talk to Ryerson University professor of politics and author of Words on Fire Rob Goodman about these topics.\xa0Through close readings of Cicero \u2013 and his predecessors, rivals, and successors \u2013 political theorist and former speechwriter Rob Goodman tracks the development of this ideal, in which speech is both spontaneous and stylized, and in which the pursuit of eloquence mitigates political inequalities.\nFor Cicero, speech was essential.\xa0More than just talking or Cicero referred to speech as \u201cwhat has united us in the bonds of justice, law, and civil order, this that has separated us from savagery and barbarism\u201d. Speech was to Cicero a sign of humanity\u2019s inherently communal and cooperative nature and one of our greatest tools in creating a prosperous life for ourselves.\n"Be no Atticus," John Quincy Adams told his good friend Charles Sumner when he thought he got to reclusive and too bookish and didn't get out there in the debate.\xa0\xa0He almost could of said, "be more like Atticus's friend Cicero!"\xa0Cicero took part in debate, spoke to defend the republic and celebrated those who did. \nRob Goodman's book Words on Fire is available here - https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/words-on-fire/FEB517ABF09F8A067773B2F563F45150\nWe are part of Airwave Media Network. Check out the other shows there - airwave media.com\nAdvertise on our podcast - sales@advertisecast.com\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices