Cicero (on the Stoics) · 106–43 BCE
On Duties 1.69 — Cicero (on the Stoics)
Translation by Walter Miller (1913)
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 1.69
Again, we must keep ourselves free from every disturbing emotion, not only from desire and fear, but also from excessive pain and pleasure, and from anger, so that we may enjoy that calm of soul and freedom from care which bring both moral stability and dignity of character. But there have been many and still are many who, while pursuing that calm of soul of which I speak, have withdrawn from civic duty and taken refuge in retirement. Among such have been found the most famous and by far the foremost philosophers and certain other earnest, thoughtful men who could not endure the conduct of either the people or their leaders; some of them, too, lived in the country and found their pleasure in the management of their private estates.
Cite this passage
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 1.69, tr. Walter Miller (1913)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/on-duties/1.69
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 notesStay free of disturbing emotions, whether desire, fear, excess pain or pleasure, or anger, so you can enjoy a calm and carefree mind that gives both stability and dignity. Many of the best thinkers pursued that calm by withdrawing from public duties into private life, unable to bear the behaviour of crowds or leaders.
Older wording
- “calm of soul”
- — peace of mind
- “civic duty”
- — your obligation to serve the community
Themes and situations
- Emotions and the passions
- Peace of mind
- Solitude and retreat
- Duty and roles
- Anger
- Burnout and overwork
- Anxiety about the future
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