“It was ordained at the beginning of the world that certain signs should prefigure certain events.”
This powerful statement comes from Marcus Tullius Cicero, a towering figure in Roman history. As a statesman, lawyer, and philosopher, Cicero grappled with the biggest questions of his time. He wrote this line in his treatise De Divinatione (On Divination). The work explores the nature of prophecy and the human attempt to understand the future. In essence, the quote captures a worldview rooted in determinism. It suggests that the universe operates on a pre-written script. Furthermore, it proposes that clues to this script are woven into the fabric of reality, waiting for us to interpret them.
This idea was not merely a philosophical musing for Cicero. It was a reflection of a deeply embedded cultural practice in ancient Rome. The belief in omens and portents shaped public policy, military campaigns, and personal decisions. Therefore, understanding this quote opens a window into the Roman mind and the timeless human desire to find order in a seemingly chaotic world.
The Philosophy of a Predestined World
To truly grasp Cicero’s statement, we must break it down. The phrase “ordained at the beginning of the world” points to a concept of cosmic predetermination. It implies that the course of history is not a series of random occurrences. Instead, a higher power or a natural order set events in motion long ago. This aligns closely with Stoic philosophy, which held significant influence in Rome. The Stoics believed in a rational, divine principle called the Logos that governs the universe. Consequently, everything that happens is part of a grand, unavoidable plan.
Next, the quote mentions “certain signs.” These are the observable clues to the future. For the Romans, signs could be anything from the flight patterns of birds to the shape of a sheep’s liver. They could also be thunder, lightning, or dreams. The key idea is that these are not meaningless events. They are messages from the divine or indicators of the universe’s internal logic. Finally, these signs “prefigure certain events,” meaning they foreshadow or predict what is to come. This creates a direct link between an omen and an outcome, suggesting a universe bound by cause and effect, even if the causes are supernatural.
This deterministic outlook raises profound questions about free will. If the future is already written, what power do our choices hold? Cicero himself explored both sides of this debate in De Divinatione. While he presents the arguments for divination, he also gives voice to skepticism. This tension between fate and human agency remains a central debate in philosophy today. It forces us to consider whether we are authors of our own stories or simply actors following a pre-written part.
Omens and Oracles in the Roman Republic
In modern society, we often dismiss ideas like divination as mere superstition. However, in ancient Rome, it was a state-sponsored science. The Romans integrated divination into the very core of their religious and political life. They believed that maintaining a good relationship with the gods (pax deorum) was essential for the state’s survival. Divination was the primary method for discerning the gods’ will. Official priests, known as augurs and haruspices, held immense influence. Indeed, their interpretations could halt elections, postpone battles, or validate a ruler’s authority.
For example, an augur would observe a designated patch of the sky. Source The species of birds, their direction of flight, and the sounds they made were all considered significant signs. Similarly, a haruspex would examine the entrails of sacrificed animals, looking for abnormalities that could signal divine disapproval. These practices were not fringe activities. They were solemn ceremonies conducted by respected officials at critical moments.
This reliance on signs shows how deeply the sentiment in Cicero’s quote permeated Roman culture. For them, the world was filled with meaning. Every natural event could be a message. This worldview provided a sense of control and understanding. In a world of plagues, wars, and political instability, the ability to read the signs offered a comforting illusion of predictability. It reinforced the belief that the universe was not random but an ordered cosmos that could be understood, if one only knew how to look.
From Ancient Omens to Modern Patterns
How does Cicero’s ancient idea resonate in our modern, scientific age? While we no longer consult bird flight to plan our day, the fundamental human impulse to find predictive signs has not disappeared. It has simply changed its form. We have traded supernatural omens for statistical models and data analytics. A meteorologist analyzes atmospheric data to prefigure a storm. Likewise, a financial analyst studies market trends to predict a recession. In both cases, the core activity is the same: identifying signs to forecast future events.
The Psychology of Seeing Signs
Psychology offers another lens through which to view this phenomenon. Humans are pattern-seeking creatures. Our brains are wired to find connections and create narratives, even from random data. This cognitive trait, known as apophenia, helps us make sense of the world. However, it can also lead us to see meaningful signs where none exist. Confirmation bias, for instance, causes us to favor information that confirms our existing beliefs. If we believe a certain event is a bad omen, we are more likely to notice negative outcomes that follow.
This innate tendency helps explain the enduring appeal of everything from astrology to conspiracy theories. We have a deep-seated need for the world to be coherent and predictable. The idea that “certain signs prefigure certain events” is comforting because it suggests an underlying order. It tells us that chaos is an illusion and that meaning is there to be found. Therefore, whether we are looking at the stars or a spreadsheet, we are often engaging in the same ancient quest that occupied Cicero.
Foreshadowing in Storytelling
The concept also remains a powerful device in art and literature. Foreshadowing, the literary equivalent of a prefiguring sign, is a staple of compelling narrative. Authors and filmmakers intentionally plant clues—a brewing storm, a black cat, a cryptic remark—to build suspense and hint at future events. This technique enriches the story, making the eventual outcome feel both surprising and inevitable. It taps into our intuitive understanding that in a well-constructed narrative, nothing is truly random. Every sign has a purpose, echoing Cicero’s vision of an ordained world.
Conclusion: The Enduring Search for Meaning
Cicero’s assertion that “it was ordained at the beginning of the world that certain signs should prefigure certain events” is far more than an artifact of a bygone era. It encapsulates a fundamental human desire to find meaning, order, and predictability in the universe. While the methods have evolved from observing animal entrails to analyzing big data, the core impulse remains unchanged. We are still searching for signs that can help us navigate the uncertainties of the future.
The quote serves as a powerful reminder of the tension between fate and free will, a debate that continues to shape our philosophical and personal beliefs. It reflects a time when the world was seen as a text filled with divine messages. Today, we may read the world differently, looking for scientific laws instead of supernatural omens. Yet, the search for patterns that prefigure what is to come continues, proving that our need to understand the script of the world is as timeless as the stars themselves.