Cicero (on the Stoics) · 106–43 BCE
On Duties 2.83 — Cicero (on the Stoics)
Translation by Walter Miller (1913)
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 2.83
A great statesman, and worthy to have been born in our commonwealth! That is the right way to deal with one's fellow-citizens, and not, as we have already witnessed on two occasions, to plant the spear in the forum and knock down the property of citizens under the auctioneer's hammer. But yon Greek, like a wise and excellent man, thought that he must look out for the welfare of all. And this is the highest statesmanship and the soundest wisdom on the part of a good citizen, not to divide the interests of the citizens but to unite all on the basis of impartial justice. "Let them live in their neighbour's house rent-free." Why so? In order that, when I have bought, built, kept up, and spent my money upon a place, you may without my consent enjoy what belongs to me? What else is that but to rob one man of what belongs to him and to give to another what does not belong to him?
Cite this passage
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 2.83, tr. Walter Miller (1913)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/on-duties/2.83
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 notesGood leadership brings people together on the basis of impartial fairness instead of favouring one group at another's expense. Letting some people enjoy another person's property for nothing is just taking from one and giving to another, and no wise leader would do it.
Older wording
- “plant the spear in the forum”
- — hold a public auction of confiscated property
Themes and situations
- Justice and fairness
- Leadership and power
- Community and our duty to others
- Leading others
- Being treated unfairly
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