Quote of the day

The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance.

Cicero, 55BC

Hat tip: The most excellent MP, Douglas Carswell

Oh b*gger Carswell says:

UPDATE:  Another constituent emails to tell me that apparently Cicero said no such thing. 

This is one of those made up quotes that get set round the internet, apparently.  A bit like the speech by the Aussie Prime Minister which folk keep sending me ....

Still, it's a damned fine quote. Does anyone know who, if anyone penned it?