Cicero (on the Stoics) · 106–43 BCE
On Duties 1.24 — Cicero (on the Stoics)
Translation by Walter Miller (1913)
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 1.24
Then, too, those very wrongs which people try to inflict on purpose to injure are often the result of fear: that is, he who premeditates injuring another is afraid that, if he does not do so, he may himself be made to suffer some hurt. But, for the most part, people are led to wrong-doing in order to secure some personal end; in this vice, avarice is generally the controlling motive.
Cite this passage
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 1.24, tr. Walter Miller (1913)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/on-duties/1.24
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 notesMany deliberate wrongs come from fear, such as striking first because you worry someone else will hurt you. Most others come from wanting something for oneself, and greed is usually the driving force.
Older wording
- “premeditates”
- — plans in advance
- “avarice”
- — greed for wealth
Themes and situations
- Justice and fairness
- Fear and anxiety
- Desire and craving
- Wealth and poverty
- Being angry with someone
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