Enter The Mind
Republican voice of duty, eloquence, and civic virtue
Marcus Tullius Cicero was born in Arpinum and rose through talent, education, and ambition to become Rome's most famous orator and one of the leading statesmen of the late Republic. His career unfolded amid civil war, faction, and the collapse of republican norms, and he defended an ideal of law-governed public life against both demagoguery and tyranny. In his philosophical works he translated Greek ethical and political thought into a Roman civic idiom. On Duties became one of the most enduring statements of honorable conduct, public responsibility, and the relation between expediency and the right.
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Begin with the anchor work, then sample a few representative passages before going wider.
Anchor Work
Written in 44 BCE for his son Marcus, Cicero's On Duties adapts Greek ethical traditions, especially Stoic thought, into a Roman account of honorable action. It examines duty in public and private life, the apparent conflict between virtue and advantage, and the obligations that bind citizens, friends, and statesmen.
On Duties
But when you survey with reason and judgment the entire field of human society, of all associations none is closer, none dearer, than that which unites each of us with our country. Parents are dear, children are dear, so...
On Duties
By means of the ring he in a short time became king of Lydia. Now if a wise man had this ring, he would not think himself any more at liberty to do wrong than if he had it not; for it is right things, not hidden things,...
On Duties
But the ultimate rule in conferring favors and rendering service is, never to make any effort against the right, or in behalf of the wrong; for the basis of enduring praise and reputation is justice, without which there...
Works
Ordered for usefulness first: anchor texts and the works most alive in the current excerpt corpus.
44 BCE / 234 excerpts
Written in 44 BCE for his son Marcus, Cicero's On Duties adapts Greek ethical traditions, especially Stoic thought, into a Roman account of honorable action. It examines duty in public and private life, the apparent conflict between virtue and advantage, and the obligations that bind citizens, friends, and statesmen.
Highlights
These are strong thread entry points drawn from the existing excerpt set.
The author argues that individual and civic interests are identical, and that nature's dictate to promote human good implies common interests.
This, then, above all, ought to be regarded by every one as an established principle, that the interest of each individual and that of the entire body of citizens are identical, which interest if any one appropriate to himself alone, he does it to the...
Cicero reiterates that immorality cannot be made right by concealment, nor can what is wrong ever become truly expedient due to the opposition of nature. This is a foundational ethical principle.
For as what is immoral, though concealed, cannot be in any way made right, so it cannot be brought about that, in spite of the opposition and repugnancy of nature, what is not right should in any case be expedient.
Cicero argues that virtue uniquely reconciles human minds and channels their goodwill, contrasting it with mechanic arts that handle inanimate objects and beasts. He asserts that only wisdom and virtue can prompt men to improve conditions through their good will.
Since, then, there is no doubt on this point, that men transcend all other causes both of benefit and of injury to men, I maintain that it is a special property of virtue to conciliate the minds of men, and to make them availing for its own uses. Thus, while...
The author argues that becomingness in life, like bodily symmetry, arises from order and moderation. A certain respect should be shown to all, as indifference to opinion is reckless, but justice and courtesy differ in treatment of men.
For as the beauty of the body attracts notice by the symmetry of the limbs, and gives delight by the very fact that all its parts harmonize with a certain graceful effect, so this becomingness which shines in the life calls forth the esteem of society by the...
Signature Themes
Prominent themes from the author's works in the corpus.
Related Authors
Adjacent minds derived from shared themes or traditions.
