Cicero (on the Stoics) · 106–43 BCE
On Duties 2.9 — Cicero (on the Stoics)
Translation by Walter Miller (1913)
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 2.9
Five principles, accordingly, have been laid down for the pursuance of duty: two of them have to do with propriety and moral rectitude; two, with the external conveniences of life—means, wealth, influence; the fifth, with the proper choice, if ever the four first mentioned seem to be in conflict. The division treating of moral rectitude, then, has been completed, and this is the part with which I desire you to be most familiar. The principle with which we are now dealing is that one which is called Expediency. The usage of this word has been corrupted and perverted and has gradually come to the point where, separating moral rectitude from expediency, it is accepted that a thing may be morally right without being expedient, and expedient without being morally right. No more pernicious doctrine than this could be introduced into human life.
Cite this passage
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 2.9, tr. Walter Miller (1913)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/on-duties/2.9
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 notesEthics has five parts, and the two on moral rightness are done. The topic now is practical advantage, or expediency. Splitting right from advantageous, as if something could be good for you yet wrong, is one of the most harmful ideas in human life.
Older wording
- “moral rectitude”
- — moral rightness, doing what is honourable
- “Expediency”
- — what is advantageous or useful
- “pernicious”
- — deeply harmful
Themes and situations
- Virtue and character
- Justice and fairness
- Judgements and impressions
- An ethical dilemma
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