Cicero (on the Stoics) · 106–43 BCE
On Duties 2.68 — Cicero (on the Stoics)
Translation by Walter Miller (1913)
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 2.68
Of course, those who pursue such a course do not need to be warned (for the point is self-evident) to be careful when they seek to oblige some, not to offend others. For oftentimes they hurt those whom they ought not or those whom it is inexpedient to offend. If they do it inadvertently, it is carelessness; if designedly, inconsiderateness. A man must apologize also, to the best of his ability, if he has involuntarily hurt anyone's feelings, and explain why what he has done was unavoidable and why he could not have done otherwise; and he must by future services and kind offices atone for the apparent offence.
Cite this passage
Cicero (on the Stoics), On Duties 2.68, tr. Walter Miller (1913)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/on-duties/2.68
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 notesWhen helping some people, take care not to offend others, since carelessness or thoughtlessness hurts the wrong people. If you do hurt someone unintentionally, apologise as well as you can, explain why it was unavoidable, and make up for it with later kindness.
Older wording
- “inexpedient”
- — unwise, not in one's interest
- “inadvertently”
- — by accident, without intending to
- “atone”
- — make amends
Themes and situations
- Kindness and forgiveness
- Justice and fairness
- Speech and silence
- Trouble with a friend
- Conflict at work
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