Cicero (on the Stoics) · 106–43 BCE
On Duties 2.52 — Cicero (on the Stoics)
Translation by Walter Miller (1913)
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 2.52
Now that I have set forth the moral duties of a young man, in so far as they may be exerted for the attainment of glory, I must next in order discuss kindness and generosity. The manner of showing it is twofold: kindness is shown to the needy either by personal service, or by gifts of money. The latter way is the easier, especially for a rich man; but the former is nobler and more dignified and more becoming to a strong and eminent man. For, although both ways alike betray a generous wish to oblige, still in the one case the favour makes a draft upon one's bank account, in the other upon one's personal energy; and the bounty which is drawn from one's material substance tends to exhaust the very fountain of liberality. Liberality is thus forestalled by liberality: for the more people one has helped with gifts of money, the fewer one can help.
Cite this passage
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 2.52, tr. Walter Miller (1913)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/on-duties/2.52
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 notesKindness takes two forms: giving money and giving personal effort. Money is the easier route but runs out, so generosity with cash limits itself, while personal service, though more demanding, is nobler and keeps your generosity going.
Older wording
- “liberality”
- — generosity
- “bounty”
- — generous giving
- “forestalled”
- — prevented in advance
Themes and situations
- Kindness and forgiveness
- Wealth and poverty
- Community and our duty to others
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