Cicero (on the Stoics) · 106–43 BCE
On Duties 1.21 — Cicero (on the Stoics)
Translation by Walter Miller (1913)
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 1.21
There is, however, no such thing as private ownership established by nature, but property becomes private either through long occupancy (as in the case of those who long ago settled in unoccupied territory) or through conquest (as in the case of those who took it in war) or by due process of law, bargain, or purchase, or by allotment. On this principle the lands of Arpinum are said to belong to the Arpinates, the Tusculan lands to the Tusculans; and similar is the assignment of private property. Therefore, inasmuch as in each case some of those things which by nature had been common property became the property of individuals, each one should retain possession of that which has fallen to his lot; and if anyone appropriates to himself anything beyond that, he will be violating the laws of human society.
Cite this passage
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 1.21, tr. Walter Miller (1913)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/on-duties/1.21
Cicero, On Duties (De Officiis), tr. Walter Miller (Loeb, 1913). Text: Perseus Digital Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesNothing is private property by nature; it becomes someone's through settlement, conquest, law, purchase or allotment. Since everyone has a share by one of these routes, each person should keep their own, and taking more than your share violates the rules of human society.
Older wording
- “allotment”
- — assignment of land by authorities
- “appropriates”
- — takes for oneself
Themes and situations
- Justice and fairness
- Wealth and poverty
- Community and our duty to others
Quote cards
The opening line of this passage as an image, with its citation — for sharing or keeping.