Cicero (on the Stoics) · 106–43 BCE
On Duties 1.34 — Cicero (on the Stoics)
Translation by Walter Miller (1913)
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 1.34
Then, too, in the case of a state in its external relations, the rights of war must be strictly observed. For since there are two ways of settling a dispute: first, by discussion; second, by physical force; and since the former is characteristic of man, the latter of the brute, we must resort to force only in case we may not avail ourselves of discussion.
Cite this passage
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 1.34, tr. Walter Miller (1913)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/on-duties/1.34
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 notesDisputes can be settled by discussion, which is the human way, or by force, which is the way of animals, so force should be a last resort after talking has failed.
Older wording
- “rights of war”
- — rules limiting what is allowed in war
- “brute”
- — an animal
Themes and situations
- Justice and fairness
- Anger
- Community and our duty to others
- Speech and silence
- Conflict at work
- Being angry with someone
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